Compiled by Jared Curtis jared@dmcityview.com

On the clock
Des Moines Police — June 13-16

June 13-16, 4 p.m. – 6 a.m.

Burglary in the 2800 block of East 14th Street. A security officer told police that suspect(s) entered a building, which is under construction, through a doorway by prying at the plywood. The suspect(s) then splattered paint and water on the walls and floors. They also sprayed a fire extinguisher throughout the building and threw the empty tank through a trailer window. There are no witnesses or suspect(s) at this time.

June 16, 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Burglary in the 3300 block of East 15th Street. The victim stated that while he was gone, suspect(s) pulled open his screen window and entered his apartment. The suspect(s) stole several items including a guitar, an X-box video game console and several games, more than 50 DVDs and a bag of cat food, value unknown. There are no witnesses or suspect(s) at this time.

June 16, 10:04 p.m.

Robbery in the 2700 block of Indianola Avenue.
An employee at Git & Go, 2700 Indianola Ave., stated that a black male wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and a mask over his face walked into the store, flashed a black handgun and asked for the money from the cash register and the safe. The employee complied, but when a witness pulled into the parking lot, the suspect fled westbound on foot. The suspect took an unknown amount of cash.

Busted

Name: Tommy Lou Johnson

The story: Officers were called to the 600 block of Walnut Street on reports of a man, later identified as Johnson, walking around with a box cutter slicing open sandbags. Upon arrival, officers saw Johnson and a security guard who had taken away the box cutter. Johnson, who was allegedly intoxicated, was swearing at him and holding a bag full of several bottles of liquor. Johnson allegedly had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, impaired balance and smelled of alcohol. He was taken to the Polk County Jail and while being processed, became angry and kicked a staff member. Johnson was charged with public intoxication, disorderly conduct and assault on a police officer.

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. Roger Martin Becker.

“On Feb. 10, 2007, jailers conducted a routine search of cells and inmates in the Bremer County Jail. Officers asked Roger Becker to exit his cell. After repeating the command four times, Becker obeyed. Officers began to pat-down Becker. Officers requested three times that Becker place his hands on the wall before he complied. As officers conducted the search, Becker was ‘verbally aggressive.’ Because Becker was behaving in an aggressive manner, officers pulled out handcuffs to restrain him. As officers removed Becker’s left hand from the wall, he turned and threw a punch and charged at the officer, driving his head into the officer’s chest. Officers regained control of the situation, handcuffed Becker and took him to a special cell to be observed. After Becker calmed down he apologized to the officers, stating he thought the officers were going to hurt him and he had a flashback from the Vietnam War. Becker also handwrote a letter apologizing for the misunderstanding. A jailer observed the entire incident and testified that while in the special cell, Becker pulled down his pants, exposed his penis and said, ‘I’m going to shove this in your ass.’

“Becker testified that he had not received his Zoloft or his pain medication for a recent tooth removal while he was in the jail. Becker also testified that when officers removed his hand from the wall, he lost his balance and ‘might have brushed up against’ them as a result. Becker denied throwing a punch or making any verbal threats. He explained that his pain made him unable to understand what the jailers were asking of him. The jury returned a verdict finding Becker guilty of assault. Becker appeals his conviction, claiming erroneous admission of prejudicial evidence and ineffective assistance of counsel.

“The district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting relevant evidence of Becker’s verbal threats made following an assault. Defense counsel’s failure to fully object to evidence of verbal threats did not result in prejudice to the defendant. Therefore, we affirm the district court.”

Most Wanted

Name: Patricia Gomez, AKA Patricia Sams
Age: 27
Height: 5’3”
Weight: 180 lbs.
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Blue
Wanted for: Parole violation.

If you know where to find this fugitive, call Crime Stoppers at 223-1400.

178 : The number of forcible rapes committed that were reported in Polk County in 2007.

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