Compiled by Jared Curtis jared@dmcityview.com

On the clock
Des Moines Police — Sept. 20-25

Sept. 20, 9:57 p.m.

Officers were dispatched to a robbery at the Holiday Inn, 1050 6th Ave. The clerk told police that she was at the front counter preparing for her cash register drop and that there was $850 in cash on the counter when the suspect approached her and asked for an application. She gave the suspect an application. The suspect returned the application with “give me all your money” written on it. When the clerk said no, the suspect pulled a black object from his pants pocket and repeated himself. The clerk believed it was a handgun and placed the cash on the counter. The suspect grabbed the cash and ran west outside the building. A security guard reported seeing the suspect walking around the hotel a few minutes before the robbery took place. Last Wednesday, Des Moines Police arrested Antonio Sheley, 39, in connection with the robbery.

Sept. 24, time unknown

Burglary in the 4000 block of 56th Street. The victim reports that sometime during the night his truck and garage were broken into. Several items were stolen including cash, two generators, a 20-gallon air compressor, tools and a toolbox, valued at $17,700. The homeowner believes that the suspects might have entered through a small door that was unlocked. There are no witnesses or suspects at this time, but the victim engraved his initials into the stolen items.

Sept. 25, time unknown

Burglary in the 2000 block of Washington Avenue. The victim left overnight and returned in the morning to find his apartment burglarized. Suspects cut out the south end second floor window screen and entered the apartment. It was unknown how the suspects got onto the roof and into the window. Several items were stolen including a DVD player, cell phone, 150 DVDs and a trash can, valued at $3,050. The police have no witnesses or suspects at this time.

BUSTED

Name: Billie Joann O’Conner

The story: Officers noticed O’Conner’s vehicle’s third tail brake light was out and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. O’Conner sped off, driving in a reckless manor at speeds of more than 75 m.p.h., running red lights and endangering other motorists. Officers executed a successful PIT maneuver and O’Conner was apprehended without resistance. O’Conner told officers there were stolen credit cards and marijuana in the vehicle. After searching her car, police found eight credit cards with multiple names, a checkbook, a small amount of marijuana, methamphetamines, two meth pipes and a marijuana pipe. O’Conner was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, eluding, forgery and fifth-degree theft.

DOCKET DIVING

The following is from recent ruling made by the Iowa Court of appeals regarding the case of the state of Iowa vs. Mahendrakumar Patel.

“Mahendrakumar Patel appeals his convictions for attempted murder and stalking contending there was insufficient evidence to support his convictions. We affirm the trial court with respect to both convictions.

“In August 2005, Patel made trips from Missouri to the Des Moines area to see Lisa Bui. In the summer of 2005, Bui moved to Iowa without telling Patel. She moved to get away from Patel and to resume a relationship with a man she had previously dated. Patel came to Des Moines on Aug. 1, planning on renting a dark, mid-sized car in order to follow Bui and to avoid detection. He told the car rental clerk that his girlfriend had taken his money, used him, and now loved someone else, and that he wanted to teach her a lesson. The clerk called the police and Patel was arrested.

“On Aug. 21, Bui testified she heard a noise and found Patel at her door. In the afternoon, they went to Prairie Meadows. Patel and Bui left the casino at approximately 7:39 p.m. While driving on Hubbell Avenue, Patel told Bui he had to urinate and pulled into the parking lot of a storage and vault business. Patel then opened the back passenger door and grabbed her violently by the hair, placed a towel over her face to smother her, and attempted to tie her wrist to a headrest with a plastic flex cuff. She fought back, begged him not to hurt her, and told him she loved him. Bui got away and ran toward Hubbell, where she flagged down a passing motorist. Patel was arrested at Prairie Meadows and was charged with attempted murder attempted burglary and two counts of stalking. Patel contends there was insufficient evidence to establish his guilt because Bui’s testimony lacked credibility.

“The trial court found that Patel was not a credible witness and cited several examples to support its finding. Further, the physical evidence (e.g., Bui’s hair found on the towel and the package of plastic flex cuffs on the floor of the back seat) and Bui’s cell phone records corroborate Bui’s testimony. We conclude there is substantial evidence to support the trial court’s verdict.”

Missing

Name: Jennifer A. Hass
Age At Report: 16
Age Now: 17
Weight: 180 lbs.
Height: 5’03”
Race: White
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Green
Sex: Female
Incident Type: Juvenile

Jennifer Hass was reported missing to the Davenport Police Department on Aug 9. She may go by the name Jen or Jenny. She has a pierced tongue, freckles and a scar between her lip and chin. If you have any information on her location, please call the Davenport Police Department at (563) 326-6121.

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

13 : The average number of vacation days, per year, workers receive in the United States.

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