Compiled by Jared Curtis jared@dmcityview.com

On the clock
Des Moines Police — Sept. 4

Sept. 4, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Burglary in the 6900 block of Southeast 14th Street. The victim stated she left her house with the windows closed and the doors locked. When she returned, she found her house in disarray. The victim found her north bedroom window opened. Multiple items were taken, including jewelry, checks, DVD player, CD player, a receiver and three credit cards, valued at more than $11,000. The victim stated noticing a red, black and grey Geo Tracker with two white males sitting in an empty lot across from her residence. There are no witnesses or suspects at this time.

Sept. 4, 7:20 a.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Burglary in the 2400 block of Southwest 7th Street. The victim stated that an unknown suspect entered her residence while she was at work. The victim thinks the suspect entered by reaching through the doggie door and unlocking the back door. Multiple items including a 30 GB Ipod, eight DVDs, an unknown amount of change and four frozen pizzas were taken from her residence. There are no suspects or witnesses at this time.

Sept. 4, 2 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Burglary in the 1200 block of East 14th Street. The manager of Home Team Pizza arrived at work to find the cash register ripped open and the money gone. The manager then went to check the night deposit bag sitting on the desk, only to find it was missing as well. The suspects pried open the south door to gain entry. More than $900 was taken from the drawer and night deposit bag. There are no witnesses or suspects at this time.

Busted

Name: Danielle Joleen Brown

The Story: Officers assisted on a call about a reckless driver driving in the grass in the 1800 block of Watrous Avenue. When they arrived at the scene, Brown was being escorted to a police car. Brown admitted that she consumed alcohol and drove in the grass. After failing a field sobriety test and registering a .249 on a Breathalyzer test, Brown was placed in handcuffs and put in the back of a squad car. Brown then slipped out of her cuffs and had to be removed from the squad car. Officers again cuffed Brown and began walking her back to the car, when she grabbed at an officer’s groin. A wagon was called in, and she was transported to the Polk County Jail, where she was charged with OWI first offense, simple assault/interference with official acts and reckless driving.

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. Carolyn Sue Welch.

“Carolyn Sue Welch appeals from her conviction following a jury trial for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

“On July 6, 2005, officers with the Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at a home in Marshalltown, Iowa. They believed Carolyn Sue Welch, who was living there, had a connection to the red phosphorous they had discovered while searching another house. Officers entered the house and observed firearms in an open closet in a room. In the house they discovered methamphetamine, small quantities of marijuana and paraphernalia. Officers questioned Welch, a convicted felon, about the guns in the house. She stated she had told the house’s owner, she could not be in there with guns and they had discussed securing them.

“On July 8, 2005, after a second interview, officers arrested Welch. On July 18, 2005, Welch was charged with numerous drug offenses and with being a felon in possession of a firearm. A jury trial commenced on March 21, 2006. The jury rendered guilty verdicts on the charges. Welch was sentenced to a total term of incarceration not to exceed twenty-five years. She appeals her conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. She contends her trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to obtain a ruling on the defense motion for judgment of acquittal and failing to request a jury instruction on the ‘possession’ alternative. To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, Welch “must demonstrate both ineffective assistance and prejudice. Welch must also show prejudice it is not enough to show counsel’s errors ‘had some conceivable effect on the outcome.’ At the close of evidence, Welch’s counsel made a motion for judgment of acquittal. The court stated it would take the motion under advisement, but it never made an oral or written ruling on the motion.

“We conclude Welch’s ineffective assistance of counsel claims should be preserved for possible post conviction relief proceedings to permit the development of a complete record and to allow her trial counsel an opportunity to respond to the charges. We affirm her conviction and sentence.”

Most wanted

Name: John Hill Jr.

Age: 18

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 174 lbs.

Hair: Brown

Eyes: Blue

Wanted for: Lascivious acts with a child by The Polk County Sheriff’s Department and burglary in the third degree by the Madison County Sheriff’s Department.

If you know where to find this fugitive, call Crime Stoppers at 223-1400.

123,000 : The number of gallons of wine produced per year by vineyards in Iowa.

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