Johnston Police Blotter: Two Thefts That Weren't Thefts After All

Editor's note: All information is provided by police in incident reports through Feb. 17, the most recent available. Dates below are when the incident occurred, not when an arrest or charges were filed. Charges do not always result in convictions.

Feb. 14

A person staying at the AmericInn, 5050 Merle Hay Road, reported a vehicle taken. Authorities later determined the vehicle was not stolen.

Feb. 15

Erich Frieling Reints, 41, address not given, was charged with driving while his license was revoked or suspended, speeding and failure to show proof of insurance. He was stopped by police at the East Sixth Street off-ramp on Interstate 235 in Des Moines.

Employees with Mediacom reported the theft of cable services from a house in the 6200 block of Merle Hay Road.

Feb. 16

Ben Cecil Bell III, 27, address not given, was arrested for driving while his license is revoked, cited for no insurance and failure to obey a traffic control device.

Feb. 17

A student at Johnston High School, 6501 N.W. 62nd Ave., was charged with fourth-degree theft for allegedly stealing an iPod from the school's locker room.

A 75-year-old Johnston woman reported the theft of a large amount of jewelry from her home in the 5900 block of Sapphire Circle. The items were last seen before Christmas and she noticed them missing only a few days ago. She later contacted police to say she found the jewerly, which she had misplaced.

Employees of Lifetime Vision, 5525 Merle Hay Road, Suite 155, reported one of their prescription pads was stolen. Authorities believe the pad was taken by a person hired as a temporary employee.

Larry Gerard Polittle, 58, address not given, was arrested on an outstanding warrant.