On February 9, 2026, at 9:33pm, Oelwein Officers conducted a traffic stop in the 700 block of 6th St NW. As a result of the traffic stop, Oelwein officers arrested Elisha Jeremiah Zanders, 24, of Dunkerton IA, for Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana – Simple Misdemeanor – 1st Offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Simple Misdemeanor. Zanders was cited and released on a Promise to Appear. Zanders also received a citation for Speeding.
At 9:47pm, Oelwein Officers conducted a traffic stop in the 2400 block of Rock Island Road. As a result of the traffic stop, Dawn Elizabeth Peterson, 24, of Sumner Iowa, was arrested on charges of Driving While Barred – Aggravated Misdemeanor, Possession of Controlled Substance – Marijuana – 2nd Offense – Serious Misdemeanor, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Simple Misdemeanor, and Driving Without SR22 Insurance – Non-Scheduled Violation. Peterson was also cited for Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability.
At 8:58pm on February 7, 2026, Oelwein Police attempted to conduct a traffic stop near the intersection of S Frederick Ave and Hwy 281, however the driver of the vehicle refused to stop and led officers on a brief vehicle chase heading west bound on Hwy 281. The driver stopped the vehicle in the 1500 block of 100th St and attempted to flee inside their residence but was stopped before they could succeed. As a result, officers arrested Troy Christopher Miller, 37, of Oelwein. Miller was charged with Eluding - Serious Misdemeanor and Interference with Official Acts - Simple Misdemeanor. Oelwein Police were assisted by the Fayette County Sheriff's Office.
On February 6, 2026, at 3:59pm, Oelwein officers investigated a 2-vehicle accident at 1st St and 1st Ave SW. A 2013 Ford Escape, operated by Jaleal Warfield of Stanley, IA, was backing up when it collided with a 2008 Chevy Impala operated by Taylor Nohrenberg of Oelwein. Warfield was assigned at fault for the accident. Warfield’s vehicle suffered no apparent damage while Nohrenberg’s vehicle received approximately $1,500 in damage. No injuries were reported.
On February 4, 2026, at approximately 10:12pm, Oelwein Officers arrested Paul Michael Kinch, 20, of Oelwein. Kinch was arrested in the 400 block of 13th Ave NW on charges of Possession Controlled Substance – Marijuana 1st Offense – Serious Misdemeanor and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Simple Misdemeanor.
On February 03, 2026, at approximately 1:29am, Oelwein Officers arrested Christopher Lee Becker, 43, of Oelwein. Becker was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Simple Misdemeanor and Possession of Controlled Substance – 3rd or Subsequent Offense – Methamphetamine – Class D Felony. Becker was arrested in the 1300 block of Industrial Park Road.
At approximately 9:22am, Oelwein Officers responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident at 1st St SE and South Frederick. A 2005 Ford Explorer, driven by Shirley Davis, collided with a 2020 Ford Escape, driven by Kathleen Lenth. As a result of their investigation, officers cited Davis with Failure to Obey Stop Sign and Yield Right of Way. Davis’s vehicle suffered approximately $1,500 of damage and $5,500 of damage was done to Lenth’s vehicle.
At approximately 2:01pm Oelwein Officers responded to the Oelwein High School for a report of a student in possession of tobacco. Logan John Gonzales, 18, of Oelwein received a citation for Underage Tobacco Possession. Gonzales was cited and released.
At 5:02pm on January 30, 2026, Oelwein Police responded to a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Rock Island Rd and 10th St SE. A silver 2012 Nissan Quest, driven by Zara Druecker of Oelwein, attempted to cross Rock Island Rd heading eastbound when they cut off and were struck by a black 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Krystal Thole of Strawberry Point, that was heading northbound on Rock Island Rd. Initial estimates of damages were $3,000 to the vehicle driven by Druecker and $3,000 to the vehicle driven by Thole. Druecker was assigned fault for the accident and was issued citations for Failure to Obey Stop Sign and Yield Right of Way, Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability at Accident Scene, and No Valid Drivers' License.
At 10:21am on February 2, 2026, Oelwein Police cited a 10-year-old female juvenile with Minor Using Tobacco/Vape Product. The citation was issued following a report of a student with a vape device at Oelwein Middle School.
At 3:45pm on February 2, 2026, Oelwein Police responded to a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of 1st Ave SE and 2nd St SE. A silver 2000 Chevrolet Impala, driven by Amy Rahe of Cedar Rapids, was driving southbound on 1st Ave SE and attempted to turn left heading eastbound on 2nd St SE, cutting across the path of and being struck by a black 2013 Ford Edge, driven by Hunter Wagner of Fayette. Initial estimates of damages were $5,000 to the vehicle driven by Rahe and $1,000 to the vehicle driven by Wagner. Rahe was assigned fault for the accident and was issued a citation for Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability at Accident Scene. Oelwein Police were assisted by Midwest Collision and Towing.
At 9:25pm on February 2, 2026, Oelwein police charged Matthew John Seastrand, 50, of Hazleton, with Driving While License Suspended. Seastrand was issued a citation and summons to court for the infraction following a traffic stop in the 200 block of 10th St SE. Seastrand was also issued a citation for Failure to Maintain Registration Plate
At 1:29am on February 3, 2026, Oelwein Police arrested Cristopher Lee Becker, 43, of Oelwein. Becker was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd or Subsequent Offense - Class D Felony and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Simple Misdemeanor. This arrest was made after officers responded to a report of a male subject acting strangely in the 1300 block of Industrial Park Rd.
At 1:12pm on January 30, 2026, Oelwein Police responded to a report of a student at Oelwein High School possessing a vape device. As a result, a citation was issued to a 14-year-old female juvenile for Minor Using Tobacco/Vape Product 1st Offense.
At 3:48pm on January 29, 2026, Oelwein Police arrested Timothy Parrish, 64, of Oelwein. Parrish was arrested on a U.S. Marshall's warrant for federal indictment on an original charge of 23 counts of Possession of Firearm by a Felon - Class D Felony. This arrest was made in the 100 block of 7th Ave NE.
At 4:04pm on January 29, 2026, Oelwein Police arrested Dominic Tyler Thorsten, 32, of Oelwein. Thorsten was arrested on a Buchanan County warrant for an original charge of Violation of a No Contact Order - Simple Misdemeanor. This arrest was made in the 200 block of 6th Ave SE.
At 7:09pm on January 29, 2026, Oelwein Police arrested Nathaniel Jeffrey Rohrick, 33, of Oelwein. Rohrick was arrested on two Fayette County warrants, each for an original charge of Violation of Probation. This arrest was made in the 700 block of 2nd St NW.
On January 30, 2026, Oelwein Police filed charges on two juveniles in conclusion of an investigation into an incident that occurred in the 10 block of 1st Ave SE on January 23, 2026. As a result, a 14-year-old female juvenile is being charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense - Serious Misdemeanor, and a 15-year-old female juvenile is being charged with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance - Aggravated Misdemeanor.
At 5:15pm on January 27, 2026, Oelwein Police responded to a motor vehicle collision in the Fareway parking lot following reports of a vehicle driving into three other vehicles. A silver 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, driven by Myrna Price of Oelwein, collided with a green 2012 Chevrolet Equinox owned by Mindy Noe of Oelwein, a white 2017 Chevrolet Equinox owned by Mary Ridenour of Arlington, and a blue 2025 Nissan Sentra owned by Katherine Turner of Oelwein.
Initial estimates of damages were $8,000 to the vehicle driven by Price, $1,000 to Noe's vehicle, $1,000 to Ridenour's vehicle, and $4,000 to Turner's vehicle. Price was assigned fault for the accident after the investigation revealed that Price had mistaken the gas and brake pedals when pulling into a parking spot. Oelwein Police were assisted by Midwest Collision and Towing.
At 7:59pm on January 28, 2026. Oelwein Police issued a citation and summons to court to Deana Marie Scapardine, 32, of Oelwein, with a charge of Leaving the Scene of an Accident (Property Damage Only) - Simple Misdemeanor. Scapardine was charged following an investigation into a hit and run accident at the intersection of 1st Ave and W Charles St that was reported on January 21, 2026. The nature of the accident was a maroon 2018 Kia Forte, driven by Scapardine, lost traction on ice and rearended a gray 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Emma Kuhn of Oelwein. Scapardine departed the scene prior to arrival of police and without exchanging information.
Initial estimates of damages were $1,500 to the vehicle driven by Kuhn, and little to no damage on Scapardine's vehicle. Scapardine was assigned fault for the accident, and in addition to the misdemeanor citation was also cited for Failure to Maintain Control.
On January 26, 2026, at approximately 9pm, Oelwein Officers conducted a traffic stop in the 100 block of 2nd St SE. As a result of the traffic stop, Briana Lynn Dow, 41, of Oelwein, was issued a summons for Driving While License Suspended. Dow also received a citation for Failure to Provide Proof of Insurance.
