Police Blotter: Internet Scams, Hidden Needles and Candy Corn on the Lam

After Wiring Money to India, West Des Moines Man Becomes Wise to Scam

West Des Moines Police are continuing to investigate an incident in which a West Des Moines man claimed he was scammed while searching the Internet for an installment loan.

William Darren Jackman, 42, of 3911 Woodland Ave., said that after making the Internet search, he received a call from someone claiming to represent a business called Consumer Finance. He told police he was informed that he had been approved for a $1,500 loan, but would need to send money via Western Union to cover various fees and expenses associated with the loan.

On that day, he made three separate wire transfers totaling $469 to people in India. After making the transfers, he received a phone call from the alleged company saying there had been an error with the transfer fee and he needed to send an additional $70 to cover the expense. At that point, he realized he had been scammed.

Yes, Those Needles Could Injure an Officer

Anna Katherine Kaufman, 23, of 3120 Cottage Grove Ave. in Des Moines, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal possession of prescription drugs and fifth-degree theft after an employee of Wal-Mart, 6365 Stagecoach Drive, reported the theft of $135 in compact discs Sunday.

When asked by West Des Moines Police Officer Bill Jess if she had any items that were illegal, not paid for or would harm him, he was informed by Kaufman that there were needles in her purse with caps on them and that she used them to inject drugs.

A search of her purse revealed seven needles, two tablespoons with white residue and burn marks, a small white bottle containing 10 loose pills and seven pills wrapped in plastic that Kaufman identified as the prescription drug Paxil.

Kaufman was booked at the Dallas County Jail, released and ordered to appear in court Nov. 23.

Has Anyone Seen the Candy Corn?

Someone stole an antique Thanksgiving decoration from 1433 Pleasant St. Thomas Erwin Kersey, 60, reported that a lighted candy corn decoration was taken sometime between 5 p.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday. The decoration was mounted to a pole at the end of his driveway.

Nov. 14
Police arrested Leonardo Rivera, 37, of 617 Thornton Ave. in Des Moines after stopping stopping his vehicle in the 600 block of Railroad Avenue because it had a headlight out. Rivera was wanted in California on parole violations related to drug charges, and will be extradited by California authorities.

Nov. 13
Angelo Jo Harris, 30, of 8410 Plum Drive, Urbandale, was charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, second offense, at 2:24 a.m. after police received a tip an intoxicated driver had left West Glen Town Center.

Nov. 12
Zachary Ross Hildreth, 28, of 208 Dickman Road, Des Moines, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and driving while his license was suspended after police clocked his vehicle at 75 mph in the vicinity of 63rd Street and Browns Woods Drive about 2:30 a.m.

Rachel Ann Weeg, 24, of 1006 S.E. Michael Drive was charged with operating while under the influence, first offense, at 1:29 a.m. after police observed her strike a curb and clocked her for speeding near the 200 block of South Prairie View Drive.

A resident of 145 57th Court reported the theft of a cell phone charger and a business checkbook. He found the rear hatch of his car open.

A resident of 1450 Office Park Road reported the theft of both sets of license plates from her vehicle.

Nov. 11
A resident of the Normandy Terrace Apartment complex at 1800 Grand Ave. reported that someone shattered the passenger window of his van while it was parked on the east side of Building 10. Nothing was taken from the vehicle.

Police were called to 8807 Kingman Drive at 10:30 a.m. after a neighbor reported seeing a female in a dirty light green or tan Jeep Cherokee passing out Sarpino pizza coupons. He said he observed her pick up a FedEx package or envelope that had been left on the doorstep of the residence, get back in her vehicle and leave the area. The resident said he believed his Wells Fargo Master Card was in the envelope. When the victim canceled the card, it had not been used.

A resident at 409  Ninth St. reported the theft of $1,400 in electronics equipment from the house.

A West Des Moines woman reported that a $876.10 check had been fraudulently written on her account at Wells Fargo Bank NA. The bank advised the woman the check appeared to have been made on a computer. The signature appeared to be hers, but the rest of the writing, including the name of the party who cashed the check, was written by a different hand. The bank has restored the money to the woman’s account.

Joy Elaine Trueblood, 51, of 1675 Glen Oaks Drive reported she was traveling westbound in the 5100 block of Grand Avenue when something large hit her front passenger window, causing the glass to crack. She thought someone had thrown something from the side of the road.