Compiled by Jared Curtis jared@dmcityview.com

Des Moines Police
On the clock — Aug. 9-11

Aug. 9, 10 a.m.
Burglary in the 5500 block of Aurora Avenue. The victim stated a maintenance man found her sliding door broken. The victim’s north side sliding door to her apartment was pried open and entry was gained. No property was missing, but $1,800 in cash from the night stand drawer was reported stolen. There were no witnesses or suspects.

Aug. 10, 2:30 a.m.
Burglary in the 600 block of 42nd Street. The victims state their dog woke them up about 2:30 a.m. They thought the dog sensed somebody in the house, but didn’t investigate at the time. In the morning they found a purse containing two credit cards and identification missing from the kitchen counter as well as $400 that was sitting underneath the purse. The suspect possibly entered through the “doggie door” and unlocked the kitchen door when leaving.

Aug. 11, 1:37 a.m.
Burglary in the 800 block of Payton Avenue. Upon arrival, the officer met with the victim who claimed someone used a pry bar to open the door to her apartment. The victim’s apartment was ransacked and a safe containing $1,400 in cash was taken. There were no witnesses or suspects at the time.

Aug. 11, 3:13 a.m.
Robbery in the 1100 block of 23rd Street. Police were called to the scene of a robbery. The victim stated a white male and a black male approached him. The black man got in the victim’s face and said, “give me your stuff.” The black male then punched the victim in the face. The two suspects then took the victim’s wallet, which contained $20 and all of the victim’s identification, and fled the scene.

Busted

Name: Donald Eugene Burrell
The story: Des Moines Police met with the victim, who is an employee at The Walden Point assisted living center. Burrell is a resident at Walden Point. The victim stated that Burrell asked for a glass of orange juice. The victim stated that they didn’t have any orange juice, but would get him a glass of pink lemonade. The victim went to get the lemonade and began to talk to some other employees. The victim believes Burrell got upset because he felt ignored. The victim stated Burrell hit her in the right side of the face with his elbow, leaving a cut inside the victim’s mouth. Burrell claimed there was no confrontation and stated that he knew they had orange juice. Witnesses say they observed Burrell assault the victim and that Burrell is violent and has assaulted others before. Burrell was charged with simple assault.

Docket Diving

The following is from a recent ruling made by the Iowa Court of Appeals regarding the case of the State of Iowa vs. Jedediah Lee Jennings.

“Jedediah Jennings appeals from the sentence imposed by the district court following his convictions for delivery of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a public park and delivery of marijuana. After Jennings sold marijuana to a confidential informant in July and August of 2002, the state charged him with delivery of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a public park and delivery of marijuana. The case proceeded to jury trial in July 2003, and the jury found the defendant guilty as charged. The court imposed suspended sentences and placed him on probation for three years. Jennings appealed his convictions to the Iowa Supreme Court. The State moved to reverse the convictions, conceding error in the entrapment jury instruction. The Supreme Court reversed the convictions and remanded the case to the district court for further proceedings.

On retrial, Jennings waived a jury trial and withdrew his entrapment defense. The parties stipulated that the hotel where one of the controlled buys took place was 275 feet from a public park. The district court found Jennings guilty of delivery of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a public park and delivery of marijuana. The court sentenced Jennings to a term of incarceration of no more than five years on each count and imposed an additional five-year term under the sentencing enhancement provided for delivery of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a public park. The court suspended the sentences and placed Jennings on probation for three years with several special conditions, including residing at a residential facility for 180 days or until maximum benefits were obtained. Jennings appeals, contending the district court abused its discretion by failing to state sufficient reasons for imposing the additional five-year term of incarceration under the sentencing enhancement. Accordingly, we conclude the district court’s statements on the record at the time of the sentencing hearing adequately explain its overall sentencing plan, including its decision to impose the sentencing enhancement. They are thus sufficient to allow appellate review of the trial court’s discretionary act of ordering imposition of the sentencing enhancement. We therefore affirm the sentence imposed by the district court.”

Missing

Name: Chase D. Gomez
Age At Report: 5
Age Now: 6
Weight: 40 lbs.
Height: 3’0”
Race: White
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Blue
Sex: Male
Incident Type: Familial abduction

Chase Gomez was reported missing to the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office, in Waukon on Jan 20, 2007. He is possibly in Cartega, Costa Rica, with his father.

If you have information regarding the disappearance of Chase D. Gomez, please contact the Missing Person Information Clearinghouse Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation 1-800-346-5507.

From the Missing Person Information Clearinghouse Web site: http://www.iowaonline.state.ia.us/mpic

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