Compiled by Jared Curtis jared@dmcityview.com

On the clock
Des Moines Police — Sept. 15-17

Sept. 15, 3:08 a.m.
Burglary in the 600 block of 18th Street. The victim told police he was sitting at home when a black male named “Slick” kicked in his front door. “Slick” entered with two black males and a white male, all in their 20s and said “you owe me money.” The victim stated he didn’t have any money, then “Slick” and the other suspects picked up a 23-inch TV/VCR and home telephone and left. The victim tells police that he doesn’t know the suspect very well, but thought he knew where he lived. He also said he saw “Slick” last week with a gun, but didn’t know if he had it when he entered the apartment.

Sept. 16, time unknown
Arson in the 3800 block of Hull Avenue. The victim said she placed an old loveseat out on the curb, in hopes someone would pick it up. By the next morning, the victim realized the couch had been set on fire sometime during the night. There were no witnesses or suspects.

Sept. 16-17, 4 p.m.-11 a.m.
Burglary in the 200 block of Loomis Avenue. The victim spent the night in the hospital with his father. After returning home in the morning, the victim found his backdoor forced open. The house was ransacked and damaged. A safe that was bolted to the floor in the closet was pried up. Multiple items were taken including: two stereos, two leather jackets, jewelry, personal checks and more than $3,000. The victim believes he knows who did it, but has no proof.

Busted

Name: Cyle Joseph Williams
The story: Officers responded to a call about a fight at the 101 Lounge, 101 3rd St. When they arrived, security had detained Williams. Officers spoke with witnesses and the bar owner, who both stated that Williams was intoxicated and began fighting with several patrons. Williams then punched a security guard working at the bar. The bouncer suffered a cut lip. Williams was arrested, taken to the Polk County Jail and charged with simple assault.

Docket Diving

The following is from a recent ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court regarding Martha J. Stark, Rebecca J. Lodge and Terry J. Stark vs. Alita Stark.

“Joseph Stark died on Feb. 15, 2005, survived by his wife, Alita Stark. Joe had previously been married to Audrey Stark and they had three children together, the appellees in this lawsuit. Joe was buried in Hillcrest Cemetery near plots owned by Audrey, his first wife and the Stark children. In April 2005, Alita decided to move Joe’s remains to Evergreen Cemetery, where Joe’s parents were buried. Alita submitted an application to the Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Records (DPH), for a permit to disinter Joe’s remains, and DPH issued the permit. The Stark children filed a petition in equity requesting temporary and permanent injunctions enjoining Alita from disinterring Joe’s remains. The district court granted an ex parte order for temporary injunction and, after a hearing, permanently enjoined Alita from disinterring Joe’s remains. Alita appeals. The only statutory requirements for a state-issued permit are that the surviving spouse or, in the absence of a surviving spouse, the next of kin, consent to the disinterment, and the purpose of the disinterment be for autopsy or reburial.

“The Stark children argue, and the district court agreed, that the statute does not give the surviving spouse an exclusive affirmative right to disinter, but rather gives the surviving spouse a veto power when someone else requests disinterment. We do not agree. It is clear that, when the legislature wanted to limit the ability to disinter, it knew how to do so. The legislature clearly delineated the purposes for which disinterment could be granted (only for reburial or autopsy) and the requirements that must be met for a court-ordered disinterment over the objection of the surviving spouse. The district court did not have authority to override a state permit validly issued with the consent of the surviving spouse. Any remedy in such a case must be through judicial review proceedings.

“Accordingly, we conclude that the district court erred in enjoining a surviving spouse from disinterring and reentering her deceased spouse’s remains pursuant to a state-issued permit. We reverse and remand for dismissal of the petition.”

Missing

Name: Alissa A. Walls
Age at report: 17
Age now: 18
Weight: 135 lbs.
Height: 5’ 06”
Race: White
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Blue
Sex: Female
Incident type: Juvenile

Alissa Walls was reported missing to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office in Iowa City on April 28, 2007. She has a scar on her forehead.
If you have any information on Alissa, contact the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department (Iowa) at (319) 356-6020
From the Missing Person Information Clearinghouse Web site: http://www.iowaonline.state.ia.us/mpic

100 : The average amount of hours in a year spent commuting to work.

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