At 2:14pm on October 21, 2026, Oelwein Police charged a 15-year-old male juvenile with Minor Using Tobacco/Vape Product 1st Offense.  The juvenile was issued a citation for the offense following a report of a student with a vape device at Oelwein High School.

At 5:10pm on October 21, 2026, Oelwein Police arrested Terry Lynn Bennington, 56, of Cedar Rapids, following a traffic stop in the 900 block of S Frederick Ave.  Bennington was arrested on three Webster County warrants for Failure to Appear on original charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd or Subsequent Offense (Marijuana) - Aggravated Misdemeanor, Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense (Methamphetamine) - Serious Misdemeanor, and Operating While Intoxicated - Serious Misdemeanor.

At 11:03pm on October 21, 2026, Oelwein Police charged Rebekkah Christine Coffman, 35, of Marion, KS, with Driving While License Suspended - Simple Misdemeanor.  Coffman was issued a citation and summons to court for the offense following a traffic stop in the 10 block of 2nd Ave SW, as well as being issued an equipment repair order for faulty brake lights.

At 12:44pm on October 16, 2026, Oelwein Police charged Abbie Lynn Miller, 30, of Oelwein, with 5th Degree Theft - Simple Misdemeanor following an investigation into a shoplifting incident that occurred on September 16, 2026.  Miller was issued a summons to court for the offense.

At 1:46am on October 19, 2026, Oelwein Police charged a 16-year-old female juvenile with Minor Using Tobacco/Vape Device.  The juvenile was issued a citation for the offense during a traffic stop in the 1 block of 1st St SE, where the juvenile was a passenger and found to be in possession of a vape device.

At around 1:50pm on October 19, 2026, Oelwein Police responded to a two-vehicle accident in the 700 block of Rock Island Rd.  Both vehicles were travelling northbound when a white 2011 Ford Fusion, driven by Shane Thomas-Wayne Kauffman, 31 of Oelwein, made an improper lane change from the right lane, colliding with the passenger side of a black 2014 Buick Enclave driven by Brandon Michael Reaves, 35, of Oelwein.  Damages were estimated at $1,000 to Kauffman's vehicle and $2,500 to Reaves' vehicle.  No injuries were reported, and Kauffman was assigned fault for the accident.  Kauffman was also issued citations for No Valid Driver's License and Improper Lane Change.

At 2:51am on October 20, 2026, Oelwein Police arrested Shane Thomas-Wayne Kauffman, 31, of Oelwein, after responding to a call about a domestic disturbance in the 400 block of N Frederick Ave.  Kauffman was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Bodily Injury - Serious Misdemeanor.

At 8:05pm on October 20, 2026, Oelwein Police arrested Joshua Wayne Oneil, 50, of Waterloo, after responding to a call about a domestic disturbance in the 100 block of 8th Ave NW.  Oneil was charged with Violation of a No Contact Order - Simple Misdemeanor.

At 9:36am on October 15, 2026, Oelwein Police responded to a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of 1st Ave and E Charles St.  A white 2019 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Natalie Rose Crandall, 20, of Oelwein, was travelling northbound on 1st Ave SE, and at the intersection with E Charles St failed to stop at a red light.  This resulted in Crandall's vehicle colliding with the rear passenger side of a black 2008 Toyota Scion driven by Jaden Nicole Gould, 30, of Oelwein, who was travelling eastbound on E Charles St.  Initial estimates of damages were $2,000 for Crandall's vehicle and $1,000 for Gould's vehicle.  No injuries were reported on scene, and both vehicles were able to be driven away.

At 11:12am on October 8, 2026, Oelwein Police arrested Megan Elizabeth McAllister, 37, of Oran, after responding to reports of a fight in the 200 block of 10th St SE.  McAllister was charged with Disorderly Conduct (Fighting/Violent Behavior) - Simple Misdemeanor.

At around 12:10am on October 3, 2026, Oelwein Police conducted a traffic stop in the 10 block of 9th Ave NW that resulted in four arrests.  The driver, a 17-year-old female juvenile, was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) 1st Offense - Serious Misdemeanor and Underage Possession of Alcohol 1st Offense - Simple Misdemeanor.  A 17-year-old male passenger was charged with Underage Possession of Alcohol 1st Offense - Simple Misdemeanor.  Another passenger, Brionna Howard, 18, of Oelwein, was also charged with Underage Possession of Alcohol 1st Offense - Simple Misdemeanor.  The final passenger, Allissa Rose Baker, 19, of Hazleton, was charged with Underage Use of Tobacco/Vape Product.  The two adults were cited for their violations and released with a summons to court.  Both juveniles had their cases referred to Juvenile Court after they were released to guardians.

At 1:29pm on October 6, 2026, Oelwein Police arrested Cheyanne Joy Welbes, 18, of Oelwein.  Welbes was arrested on a Fayette County warrant on an original charge of 5th Degree Theft - Simple Misdemeanor.  Welbes was arrested in the 500 block of Rock Island Rd.

At 12:17am on October 7, 2026, Oelwein Police arrested Brayden Joseph Stevens, 28, of Jesup, following a traffic stop in the 10 block of 6th St NW.  Stevens was charged with Operating While Under the Influence 2nd Offense - Aggravated Misdemeanor.  Stevens was also issued a written warning for Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device.

At 2:33pm on September 28, 2026, Oelwein Police arrested Christina Irene Edith Williams, 43, of Waterloo, for Driving While Barred - Aggravated Misdemeanor, following a traffic stop in the 10 block of 7th St SE.  Williams was also issued warnings for Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability and Using Electronic Communication Device While Driving.

At around 3:00am on September 27, 2026, Oelwein Police attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle that was going 100mph in a 55mph zone near the 1400 block of Rock Island Rd.  When the officer activated their emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop, the vehicle increased speed and attempted to elude officers until it was eventually stopped about 15 minutes later, at the intersection of 115th St and P Ave, to the northwest of Maynard.  The driver, a 17-year-old male juvenile, was charged with Eluding a Law Enforcement Vehicle (25mph or over limit) - Class D Felony, Driving While License Suspended - Serious Misdemeanor, Possession of a Controlled Substance - Serious Misdemeanor, Reckless Driving - Simple Misdemeanor, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Simple Misdemeanor.  In addition, 10 additional citations are being issued to the juvenile driver for 5 counts of Excessive Speed, 4 counts of Failure to Obey a Traffic Control device, and Violation of Graduated Driver's License.  The juvenile's guardians were notified of the pending charges, and the matter has been referred to Juvenile Court.  Oelwein Police were assisted by Fayette County Sheriff's Deputies.

At 9:08pm on September 26, 2026, Oelwein Police arrested Connor Douglas Palo, 33, of Oelwein.  Palo was arrested on a Fayette County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault (Impeding Air/Blood Flow Causing Bodily Injury) - Class D Felony, after he turned himself in at the Oelwein Police Department.

At around 12:30am on September 24, 2026, Oelwein Police charged Jessica Ann Yerrington, 40, of Oelwein, with Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) - Serious Misdemeanor and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Simple Misdemeanor.  Yerrington was issued a Summons to Appear for these charges following a traffic stop in the 10 block of 7th Ave NE.

At around 11:10am on September 24, 2026, Oelwein Police responded to a report of assault and property damage in the 10 block of 4th Ave NE.  As a result, officers arrested Teegan Mae French, 49, of Oelwein, with charges of Assault of an Older Individual - Simple Misdemeanor and 5th Degree Criminal Mischief - Simple Misdemeanor.

At 3:16pm on September 24, 2026, Oelwein Police responded to a single-vehicle accident in the 300 block of 5th St SE.  A white 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer, driven by Gary William Smith, 75, of Oelwein, was travelling westbound on 5th St SE when they lost control of their vehicle and left the roadway, striking a utility pole and rolling the vehicle onto its side.  Initial estimates of damages were $15,000 to Smith's vehicle and $5,000 to the utility pole.  While no injuries were reported on scene, Smith was transported to MercyOne Oelwein for evaluation.  Oelwein Police were assisted by the Oelwein Fire Department, Mercy One Ambulance, and Midwest Collision Center.

On September 24, 2026, Oelwein Police formally charged three 17-year-old male juveniles following an investigation into damages reported by the Williams Wellness Center on September 17, 2026, which had received damage to its floors after the juveniles rode e-scooters indoors.  Each juvenile has been charged with 5th Degree Criminal Mischief - Simple Misdemeanor and Trespassing - Simple Misdemeanor.  Guardians of the juveniles have been notified of the charges filed, and the matter has been referred to Juvenile Court.

CITY OF OELWEIN, IOWA

Media Release DATE: September 24, 2026

Release: Northeast Search Warrant Executed - Arrest Made

     At approximately 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026, the Oelwein Police Department executed a search warrant in the 400 Block of 1st Street NE in Oelwein. During the course of the search warrant, illegal controlled substances were located and seized. The following subject has been arrested and charged:

            1) Nicole Marie Cornish, 40, of Oelwein

                Possession of a controlled substance, 3rd or subsequent- Methamphetamine- Class D Felony

                Possession of a controlled substance, 3rd or subsequent- Marijuana- Class D Felony

                Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Simple Misdemeanor

     The subject was taken into custody and transported to the Fayette County Jail pending an initial appearance. Additional charges are pending, and this case is still under investigation.