Compiled by Jared Curtis jared@dmcityview.com

On the clock
Des Moines Police — Oct. 1-2

Oct. 1, 7:39 p.m.
Robbery in the 4000 block of Hull Avenue. The victim stated that he was at Sheridan Park sitting on a swing by himself, when two white males wearing blue T-shirts approached him from behind. When they reached the victim, one of the men stated, “You faggot, you shouldn’t be here.” The suspects then pulled the victim off the swing and began to punch and kick him in the face and ribs. After the suspects were done assaulting him, they took his green Schwinn bicycle, valued at $200, and left.

Oct. 2, 1:25 a.m.
Robbery in the 2400 block of Hickman Road. Officers were tipped to a fight in progress. Upon arrival the victim stated that he was in building No. 5 visiting a friend. When he left, a black male in his 20s, approached him, wearing a white button shirt with black spots and dark pants. The victim said he had a knife and demanded money. At this time another black male in his 20s, wearing a white “doo-rag,” grabbed the victim around the neck and began punching him in the face. The victim gave $120 in cash to the suspects and ran off toward the parking lot. The suspects began chasing him, but ran into one of the buildings. Officers were unable to locate the suspects.

Oct. 2, 1:25 a.m.
Robbery in the 2400 block of Hickman Road. The victim stated he was waiting in the parking lot for the previously mentioned victim, when four black males approached him. The suspects asked for a cigarillo and some of the victim’s beer he was drinking. The victim said he gave the suspects the items before all four males began punching him in the face. After he was on the ground, the suspects took $700 in cash out of his pockets and ran off. Officers found an ID in the parking lot and the victim identified him as one of his attackers. The victim’s friend, who was robbed almost at the same time, denied the ID as one of his attackers.

BUSTED

Name: Tommy Lou Johnson
The Story: The clerk at the Kum & Go store located at 2919 E. 14th St. stated that Johnson, wearing all blue, came into the store and started causing problems. Johnson approached the counter, leaned over and said, “Give me $500 in cash and I want it all in $1 bills.” The clerk refused Johnson and he raised his fist stating, “Now, we are going to have some problems.” As a customer walked in, he saw Johnson grabbing items and sticking them in his pocket. When Johnson noticed the customer, he left. Officers located Johnson, who was allegedly intoxicated, a short time later up the street. Johnson was arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail. The clerk is in the process of checking the security tapes to see what was taken.

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. Darryl K. Washington.

“Darryl K. Washington appeals from his conviction and sentence for murder in the first degree, contending he was denied effective assistance of counsel.

“Shortly after midnight on June 10, 2005, two men kicked open the back door to the residence of Dexter Ivey and Hilary Peterson. They held Ivey and Peterson at gunpoint and demanded money and drugs. Peterson recognized one of them as Sammy Clayton. While Peterson was looking for money, she heard a gun shot in the back room where the other man took Ivey. The other man came out from the back room and told Clayton they had to go. The two men left in a car. Peterson found Ivey’s body on the floor in the back room. He had been shot in the head. Peterson called the police. Clayton was arrested the same day shortly after the incident. He named Darryl Washington as the man who shot Ivey. Washington was arrested in Chicago.

“Special Agent Rahn from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation traveled to Chicago to interview Washington. Before the interview, Chicago police officers asked Agent Rahn whether he wanted to videotape the interrogation, Agent Rahn declined. Washington immediately made a statement that he was in the same car with the two men who robbed Ivey’s residence. He claimed he was drunk and asleep in the car when the robbery occurred. After the officers told Washington he had been identified as the shooter by eyewitnesses, Washington admitted he shot Ivey. The jury found Washington guilty as charged. Washington filed a motion for new trial, claiming the verdict was based on insufficient evidence.

“Washington argues that a reasonably competent counsel would have argued the officers’ failure to videotape the interview, when the equipment was readily available, in itself made the officers’ testimony untrustworthy and subject to suppression. It then held that defendant’s counsel was not ineffective for failing to request a spoliation instruction. We therefore conclude Washington’s counsel did not have a duty to request the instruction.”

Most Wanted

Name: Russell Barlow
Age: 48
Height: 6 foot
Weight: 200 pounds
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Wanted for: Burglary, third degree, and criminal mischief, second degree.

Barlow is a suspected copper thief. This case is one of many involving thefts of copper and other metals from construction sites and peoples homes. If you know where to find this fugitive, call Crime Stoppers at 223-1400.

75,000 : The amount of trees it takes to make the newsprint for the average Sunday edition of The New York Times.

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