Compiled by Jared Curtis jared@dmcityview.com

On the clock
Des Moines Police — April 18-21

April 18-21, 2:30 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Third degree burglary in the 1300 block of 25th Court. A home that was being repaired as part of the East High School remodeling project was broken into. The suspect(s) kicked in the back door, splitting the frame. The suspect(s) left behind copper and wiring, but took a miter saw, air compressor and a door, valued at more than $800. No witnesses or suspect(s) at this time.

April 20, 7:01 p.m.

Assault in the 1900 block of 23rd Street. Officers were dispatched to the scene of a fight. Upon arrival, officers spoke with the victim who stated she had been punched and choked. The victim stated that her dog got loose and ran across the street. An unknown black female began yelling and swearing at the victim about her dog. The victim apologized, but the swearing continued. The victim said the female suspect began to hit and pull her hair, shoving her to the ground. While on the ground, an unknown black male jumped on top of her. The victim said the male held her down and choked her. The victim was able to get to her feet when a second black male approached her and punched her in the left side of the face. The victim’s sister then pulled her away from the suspects. The victim thought all three suspects lived across the street.

April 21, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Burglary in the 5100 block of Lower Beaver Road. The owner stated to officers that when he returned home, he noticed the interior glass of his back door was broken. The victim went through his house and found his filing cabinet had been broken into and two rings, valued at more than $1,400, were missing. The victim also discovered that suspect(s) went through his bedroom closet, where his watch, valued at $300, was missing. There are no suspects or witnesses at this time.

Busted

Name: Jimmy Ray Murray

The story: Murray was stopped while driving in the 2100 block of York Street after he was observed operating a stolen vehicle on a city street. The vehicle, a 1990 Dodge Shadow, was impounded and the contents of the vehicle were placed into police property. Murray was charged with second-degree auto theft and driving while license is denied, cancelled, suspended or revoked and was taken 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. Pedro Antonio Bonito.

“Pedro Bonito was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping relating to the death of his wife’s lover, Filiberto Lopez Varela, also known as Miguel Rosales. Rosales died from blunt force injuries to the head consistent with the use of a hammer. Bonito was arrested in California and placed in custody. Detectives Jon Clark and Joseph Hothersall from Council Bluffs, Iowa, interrogated him at the Los Angeles Police Department along with Detective Lorenzo Moriel from Los Angeles, Calif. Bonito primarily speaks Spanish, but can speak some English. Detective Moriel speaks Spanish and helped translate statements for Bonito. At the beginning of the interrogation, the detectives reviewed Bonito’s Miranda rights. Bonito was given a written copy of his rights in Spanish. The Iowa detectives read each part to Bonito in English. Bonito initialed the form to indicate he understood he had the right to an attorney. The interrogation continued and Bonito made several incriminating statements.

“Bonito filed a motion to suppress statements he made during the interrogation, claiming that by saying, ‘Yo quiero’ he was saying that he wanted an attorney and the interrogation should have ceased at that time. At the suppression hearing, detective Moriel testified he did not believe Bonito said, ‘Yo quiero.’ Detective Moriel stated Bonito said, ‘Si,’ and then detective Moriel asked in Spanish if Bonito wanted water. Detective Moriel also testified that Bonito did not say he had ‘un mugrero’ for lunch, but rather stated he had ‘un burrito,’ and the jail had served burritos for lunch that day. The district court listened to the recording of the interrogation several times.

“The court overruled Bonito’s motion to suppress. A jury found Bonito guilty of second-degree murder. Bonito filed a motion for new trial and a motion in arrest of judgment. The district court denied Bonito’s post-trial motions. Bonito was sentenced to a term of imprisonment not to exceed fifty years.

“We affirm the district court decision denying his motion to suppress. Bonito did not raise this issue before the district court, and we conclude it has not been preserved for our review. We affirm Bonito’s conviction for second-degree murder.”

Wanted

Name: Kelley Page
Age: 41
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 190 lbs.
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Hazel
Wanted for: First and second degree theft. Page is considered dangerous. If you know where to find this fugitive, call Crime Stoppers at 223-1400.

1,135 : The number of narcotic violations in Polk County in 2007.

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