TAG SEARCH RESULTS FOR: "mahaska county sheriff"

Van Renterghem Receives Approval For Certification of Sheriffs

Posted on by KBOE Administrator

Mahaska County Sheriff Russ Van Renterghem received approval  to add members to the Sheriff Reserves  termed “occasional” employees through certification by the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors on Monday.

The Sheriff’s Reserves, commonly known as the Sheriff’s Posse, came into existence in the 1960s, chartered for approximately 42 members. Currently, the Sheriff’s Reserves is down to 13 members and of those 13, four are actually certified reserve deputies.

Sheriff Van Renterghem said, “I would like to use them to cover vacations, sick time, and that type of activity.”

Van Renterghem said, the reserves put in a lot of hours at no cost to the county by covering special events and other needs. “They are big support staff for us. They’re a group of gentlemen we can call on to assist us.“

If the reserve deputies are being used to cover patrol hours, Van Renterghem said he would like to pay them $10 per hour when on patrol. “That’s pretty cheap compared to the surrounding counties. The two I’m thinking of is Monroe and Keokuk county, they use theirs quite a bit,” said Van Renterghem.

The Reserve Sheriff’s once certified have the same enforcement powers as a full-time deputy does except for OWI laws. If they were to come across a drunk driver while on shift, the reserve deputy would have to call on a full-time deputy or get assistance from Iowa State Patrol

The Reserve Sheriff does not get paid for special events, Van Renterghem noted the death investigation that recently occurred in Beacon where the sheriff’s department secured the scene for three days, yet were not paid.

One deputy is currently going through certification, another five are signed up to go through the ‘hiring’ process to become a reserve member, said Van Renterghem.

“If it was a situation where I didn’t know them, I didn’t trust them, I wouldn’t be sitting here asking you to do this. Because I’m not going to put anyone out there I don’t trust,” said Van Renterghem.

The four individuals were approved by the board to be certified and made as an addition to the Sheriff’s Reserves. Next spring, Van Renterghem would put on another four or five certified deputies as part-time or “occasional” employees. In Iowa, certified peace officers aren’t allowed to be paid into IPERS and are not expected to impact the Mahaska County Sheriff budget, according to Van Renterghem.

This expanded patrol is expected to begin after the first of January, once harvest is finished and the extensive training is completed, said Van Renterghem.

 

Drug Take Back in Mahaska County Weighs In

Posted on by KBOE Administrator

The Oskaloosa Police Department in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office hosted the county installment of the state, and nationwide, Drug Take Back Day.

Held at the Mahaska Drug location in Oskaloosa, the Oskaloosa Police Department received a substantial amount of prescription drugs that were unwanted, expired, dangerous or deemed unsafe.

“We collected 150 pounds of prescription drugs at this event,” said Oskaloosa Police Chief Jake McGee. “This would be in addition to the 302 pounds that we collected in April of this year.”

On April 29, 2017, the state of Iowa collected 11,774 pounds on National Take Back Day and over 450 tons country wide.

The next National Drug Take Back Day will be in April of 2018.

Arrests in Theft Ring Lead to Charges

Posted on by KBOE Administrator

As part of an ongoing investigation into multiples thefts and burglaries within Mahaska County, the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at 1212 High Avenue West on July 6th. As a result of this investigation and search warrant the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office has filed multiple charges against several individuals.

Steve Melvin Sams, 26, and Cody Lee Sams, 27, were both charged with one count of Ongoing Criminal Conduct, a class B felony; one count Theft in the First Degree, class C felony; and 1 count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, simple misdemeanor. Steve Sams has made his initial appearance in Mahaska County District Court and remains in the Mahaska County Jail on a $35,000 bond. Cody Sams was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (aggravated misdeamenor). He made his initial appearance in district court and remains jailed with a bond of $51,000.

Derek Lane Graham, 34, was charged with 1 count of Controlled Substance. Graham had his initial appearance in district court yesterday.
This theft investigation is ongoing and further charges are possible.

 

Press release from the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office.

Mahaska County Primaries

Posted on by KBOE Administrator

The Iowa Primaries were held June 7th, and here’s a quick breakdown of the unofficial results for the open Mahaska County positions:

Mahaska County Supervisor:

  • Mark Groenendyk (R) – 1,763 votes (56.04{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b})
  • Valinn McReynolds (R) – 591 votes (18.79{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b})
  • Crystal Jimenez-Boender (R) – 440 votes (13.99{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b})
  • Randy Binns (R) – 349 votes (11.09{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b})
  • Write-in (R) – 3 votes (.10{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b})
  • Write-in (D) – 25 votes

Mahaska County Auditor:

  • Susan Brown (R) – 2,432 votes (99.75{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b})
  • Write-in (R) – 6 votes (.25{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b})
  • Write-in (D) – 12 votes

Mahaska County Sheriff:

  • Russell Van Renterghem (R) – 1,601 votes (49.51{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b})
  • Randy Poe (R) – 993 votes (30.71{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b})
  • Trevor Wells (R) – 345 votes (10.67{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b})
  • Doug McMillan (R) – 295 votes (9.12{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b})
  • Write-in (R) – 0 votes (0{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b})
  • Write-in (D) – 43 votes

Suspect Found, Two in Custody After Assault and Chase

Posted on by KBOE Administrator

On April 7, 2016 at approximately 10:40 am, Jasper County Sheriff’s Office Dispatchers received a 911 call from a male subject at a Reasnor residence. This subject reported that two subjects broke into the residence, assaulted him, and then took his vehicle.   The subject suffered minor injuries.

Jasper County Deputies and other law enforcement officers responded to the area. At approximately 10:52 am, a Jasper County Deputy located the two vehicles southeast of Newton. He confirmed that one of the vehicles was the stolen vehicle.  The second vehicle immediately fled the area.    The Deputy attempted to stop the stolen vehicle, which failed to stop.  The vehicle attempted to elude the deputy. Newton Police Officers were able to assist by placing stop stick devices in the roadway on S 13th Ave E during the pursuit.

The driver of the stolen vehicle did strike the stop sticks, deflating two tires.   The vehicle continued on S 13th Ave E in Newton. At the intersection of E 5th St S and S 13th Ave E, the deputy was able to initiate a pursuit intervention technique (PIT) and get the stolen vehicle stopped. The driver was taken into custody.   No one was injured during this incident.

The driver was identified as Kelsi Spears, age 23 of Kellogg, Iowa.   She was transported to Jasper County Jail.

The driver of the second vehicle has been identified as Elijah Utterback, age 37 of Ottumwa, Iowa.

On April 7th, 2016 at 2:30 pm, Elijah Utterback, age 37 of Ottumwa, was taken into custody in Northern Mahaska County.  Mahaska County Deputies located a vehicle he was operating.  Utterback fled on foot into a rural area near the North Skunk River.   This area was near Hwy 146 and on the Poweshiek/Mahaska County Line.  Law Enforcement officers from numerous agencies responded to assist.   A perimeter was established and several search teams checked the area.  A Jasper County Reserve Deputy and K-9 located Utterback hiding in a tree. He was taken into custody without incident.   Agencies assisting included Mahaska and Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Offices, Mahaska and Poweshiek County Emergency Management, Iowa State Patrol District 13 including an Iowa State Patrol Aircraft, and Mahaska County Conservation.

Utterback is charged with 1st Degree Burglary, 2nd Degree Theft, Driving with a Suspended License, and No Insurance. Spears is charged with 1st Degree Burglary, 2nd Degree Theft, Felony eluding, driving without a license, no insurance, no license plate, driving on the wrong side of the road, and failure to obey a stop sign.

Criminal charges are merely an allegation and both subjects should be considered innocent until proven guilty.

Mahaska County Sheriffs Office Incident Report

Posted on by KBOE Administrator

On March 12th, 2016, the Mahaska County Sheriffs Office was dispatched to 1593 290th Street rural Mahaska County in reference to a gunshot wound.

When officers arrived they discovered a 13 year old male with a gunshot wound. Mahaska County Sheriffs Office investigated this incident and determined that this was an accidental shooting and that he succumbed to his injury.

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