By Jared Curtis

Every week, in Rapsheet, Cityview publishes “Busted,” a column that highlights an alleged criminal in our city. This week, we decided to expand the column to include a sampling of four days worth of alleged criminal acts. These charges range from operating while intoxicated (O.W.I.), burglaries to assaults. It’s just a snapshot of what happens throughout the course of a year. All of these crimes, no matter how big or small, keep the Des Moines Police Department (DMPD) busy on a daily basis.

“The officers serving this city are highly dedicated individuals. They protect the city 24/7 under a variety of circumstances,” said DMPD Public Information Officer Sgt. Vince Valdez. “I have almost 22 years of experience as a police officer, and I really do learn something new every day.”

The DMPD employs 381 sworn officers who are out there every day trying to make Des Moines a safer place.

“People who do this type of work truly have a desire to serve and have prepared themselves mentally and physically,” Valdez said. “Many officers today enter the police academy with bachelor’s degrees and military service, or a combination of both.”

The statistics are overwhelming with numerous crimes committed every day. More than 10,500 police reports have been made already this year. Statistics from 2007 show that there were eight homicides, 503 robberies, 2,420 burglaries, 1, 623 motor vehicle thefts, 1,135 narcotics violations, 133 weapons violations, 178 forcible rapes, 107 arsons and 63 prostitution arrests. Overall there were 202,087 calls for police service. According to Valdez, the most common calls they receive deal with domestic problems.

When asked about one of the more interesting calls he has ever been on, Valdez talks about a laundromat burglary.

“I was working the midnight shift, and as we approached the building we noticed the door was open. It was dark inside but we didn’t see anyone. We heard noise inside, like a washing machine running. As we entered the building with our flashlights and guns drawn, we noticed a naked man, lying on a sofa, who appeared to be sleeping. He had a beer can in his hand and was oblivious to our presence. We woke him up and asked him what he was doing here. He said he needed to wash his clothes and decided to have a beer until they were done. We arrested him and made him get dressed. I don’t remember for sure, but I think his clothes were still wet on the way to jail.”

Although there is humor in that story, crime is no joke. We hold no bias against any of the people included in this story; they just happened to commit an alleged crime during the week we were watching.

The following mug shots were compiled during the four-day search of police records last week. They were randomly chosen and are identified by name, age, town, the date they were charged and what they were charged with.

Norman Gregory Giest, 52
Des Moines
March 31
Public intoxication (alcohol or drugs)

Joseph Anthony Zamora-Garcia, 18
Des Moines
March 31
Assault (willful injury)

Shawn De Ray Curtis, 19
Des Moines
March 31
Assault causing serious injury and third degree burglary

Danijel Banjanin, 24
Clive
March 31
Operating while intoxicated (O.W.I.) – second offense

William Eugene Freeman, 41
Urbandale
March 31
Operating while intoxicated (O.W.I.) – first offense

Ashley Renee Brown, 23
Des Moines
March 31
Driving while barred and driving while license denied, cancelled, suspended or revoked

Buffy Machelle Slack, 36
Des Moines
March 31
Operating while intoxicated (O.W.I.) – first offense

Lee Ann Steinberger, 52
Windsor Heights
March 31
Operating while intoxicated (O.W.I.) – second offense

Michael Kevin Dickey, 49
Urbandale
March 31
Third degree theft

Clayton Jay Mudge, 31
Des Moines
March 31
Operating while intoxicated (O.W.I.) – second offense

LaToya Danielle Faalafula, 25
Des Moines
April 1
First degree burglary, second degree criminal mischief and violation of no contact/protective order

Michael Anthony Cable, 18
Des Moines
April 1
Simple assault domestic abuse, fourth degree theft and fifth degree theft

Jacob Ezra Winters, 25
Ankeny
April 1
Disorderly conduct

Sonia Frances Salem, 43
Des Moines
April 1
Driving while license denied, cancelled, suspended or revoked

Gregory Houston Peery, 52
Windsor Heights
April 1
Open container in motor vehicle (driver)

Kale Christopher Davis, 20
Ankeny
April 1
Assault causing bodily injury or mental illness

Jack Vincent Lyons, 48
Des Moines
April 1
Third degree burglary (building)

Mercia Gladys Robbins, 20
Des Moines
April 1
Fifth degree theft

Alison Renee Ruiru, 30
Urbandale
April 1
Second-degree theft and probation violation

Tonya Marie White, 38
Des Moines
April 1
Fifth degree theft

Cynthia Sue Goodwin, 35
Des Moines
April 1
Drug paraphernalia and failure to signal

Joseph Supree Coates, 22
Des Moines
April 1
Assault domestic abuse simple

Samuel Drew Benson, 21
Windsor Heights
April 2
Third degree burglary (building)

Teresa Joy Schott, 27
Ankeny
April 2
Assault domestic abuse with injury and probation violation

Christopher William Thompson, 20
Des Moines
April 2
First-degree arson

Kristin Renae Hyde, 32
Des Moines
April 2
Assault domestic abuse with injury

Randall Kane Daugherty, 18
Des Moines
April 2
No driver license or failure to have driver license in possession, excessive tint on windshield/windows, eluding/attempt to elude (under 25 m.p.h. excess), probation violation and driving while license denied, cancelled, suspended or revoked

Shane Anthony Morgan, 19
Des Moines
April 2
Operating while intoxicated (O.W.I.) – first offense

Ronald Joseph Merryfield, 41
Des Moines
April 2
Possession of schedule IV narcotics, possession of precursors (drugs) and driving while license denied, cancelled, suspended or revoked

Nathaniel David Potter, 22
Des Moines
April 2
Assault (simple)

Jessica Lee Ware, 19
Des Moines
April 2
Driving while license denied, cancelled, suspended or revoked

Albert Ernest Taylor, 51
West Des Moines
April 2
Public consumption of alcohol

Clifford Carllow Loghry, 29
Des Moines
April 2
Driving while barred

Christopher Douglas Steele, 30
West Des Moines
April 2
Operating while intoxicated (O.W.I.) – third offense

Henry Edward Moss, 43
Des Moines
April 2
Assault domestic abuse with intent or with a weapon

Memoree Inez White, 40
Des Moines
April 2
Child endangerment (Nonviolent)

Danielle Joeanna Powell, 21
Waukee
April 2
Operating while intoxicated (O.W.I.) – first offense, eluding/attempt to elude (O.W.I. or drug violation) and interference with official acts

Terry Dean Ayers, 38
Des Moines
April 2
Trespass

Pamela Sue Hayes, 45
Des Moines
April 2
Driving while barred

Herbert Leroy Emery, 27
Des Moines
April 2
Des Moines
Fifth degree theft and public intoxication (alcohol or drugs)

Amber Sue Lee Easley, 19
Des Moines
April 3
Fourth degree theft

Charles Timothy Hamilton, 24
Waukee
April 3
Driving while license denied, cancelled, suspended or revoked

James Eugene Miller, 61
West Des Moines
April 3
Trespass

Brian J. Lewis, 46
Des Moines
April 3
Operating while intoxicated (O.W.I.) – second offense

Timothy Joseph Michael, 38
Des Moines
April 3
Operating while intoxicated (O.W.I.) – first offense and possession of schedule II narcotics (methamphetamine)

Elizabeth An Martinez, 34
Des Moines
April 3
Operating while intoxicated (O.W.I.) – first offense

Brandy Marie Howard, 22
Des Moines
April 3
Operating while intoxicated (O.W.I.) – first offense and possession of schedule II narcotics

Shelly Kae Yates, 43
Ankeny
April 3
Operating while intoxicated (O.W.I.) – second offense

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