Compiled by Jared Curtis jared@dmcityview.com

On the clock
Des Moines Police — Dec. 7-10

Dec. 7, 5:45 – 8:45 p.m.
Burglary in the 1700 block of East 23rd Street. Officers were dispatched on a burglary report. The homeowners stated they left to eat and returned to find their home broken into. When they left, the Christmas lights were on, as well as a lamp inside and they were both off when they returned. Suspect(s) forced the front door open and took multiple items including a 42-inch TV, clothes hamper, box of checks, box of assorted jewelry and a semi automatic pistol.

Dec. 9, 1:50 p.m.
Robbery in the 6000 block of Southeast 14th Street. An employee at Menards, located at 6000 S.E. 14th St., watched the suspect carry two air nail guns outside to the garden area. He then backed his truck up and loaded the nail guns. It was discovered later that four air nailers were missing. The suspect proceeded to drive through the lumberyard and stopped at the garden shack, where he was confronted. An employee asked him about the nail guns and the suspect panicked and drove around the gate. Pedestrians had to jump out of the way while the suspect damaged the northeast corner of the building, knocked over an aluminum overhang and hit a picnic table used by employees. The suspect drove out of the lot and north on Southeast 14th Street.

Dec. 9-10, 3 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Fire investigation in the 1500 block of Second Avenue. The storeowner of L&L Video, located at 1519 2nd Ave., reported that sometime during the reported hours, suspect(s) started a fire. It occurred on the eastside loading docks causing the garage to catch on fire and char both sides of the building.

Busted

Name: Terry Max Long
The story: Long returned home from a bar allegedly intoxicated. In response to a dispute, he began tearing up the house. His friends arrived shortly after Long began his rampage. One of Long’s friend tried to calm him down and talk to him. But Long punched him in the face causing a cut and swollen upper lip. Long caused extensive damage to the house. He was arrested, charged with assault and transported to the Polk County Jail.

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. Ravin Miller.

“Ravin Miller appeals his judgment and sentence for possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and failure to affix a drug tax stamp.

“Davenport police officers executed a search warrant on the downstairs apartment of a duplex. Before the search team arrived, two men came out of the duplex and drove away. Officers stopped their car, determined that the men were Kenneth Phillips and Kenneth Parish, and executed arrest warrants. As officers were arresting Phillips and Parish, Miller and another man came out of the front door of the duplex and walked toward the back of the house next door. Miller was apprehended about two blocks north of the duplex. Miller had $735 in cash and, like Phillips, keys to the common door and the door to the downstairs apartment in the duplex.

“Officers searched the downstairs apartment of the duplex. The empty apartment was filled with “a big cloud of marijuana smoke.” In the living room, officers found a partially smoked marijuana blunt in an ashtray and a tray containing marijuana stems and seeds. In the kitchen, officers found two vacuum-sealed plastic bags containing large quantities of compressed marijuana. On the counter were a digital scale, a box of plastic baggies, and marijuana residue. In one bedroom, officers found a pair of boots and a pair of jeans with “R Miller” written inside. The State charged Miller with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and failure to affix a drug tax stamp. The jury found Miller guilty on both counts and Miller appealed. Although Miller had keys to the apartment, so did Kenneth Phillips. While his jeans were found in the apartment, Miller was not the person who rented the apartment. Although $735 in ten and twenty dollar bills was found on Miller, an officer admitted that cash alone is not indicative of drug-dealing.

“The evidence does not pass this test. As there is not substantial evidence to establish that Miller had constructive possession of the marijuana found in the apartment or outside the duplex, we reverse the jury’s findings of guilt on the possession with intent to deliver and drug tax stamp charges.”

Most wanted

Name: Amanda Malek
Age: 27
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 165 lbs.
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Blue
Wanted for: Drug charges.
If you know where to find this fugitive, call Crime Stoppers at 223-1400.

6,274 : The number of aggravated assaults committed in Iowa in 2006.

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