West Des Moines Fire Emphasizes Important Message: Smoke Detectors Save Lives

Fire officials credit a homeowner's routine smoke-alarm maintenance with sounding the alarm when a fire broke out.

Couple Blames Contractor for Theft of Guns from Townhome

Eight guns taken from a house under renovation.

Cash, Video Games Taken in West Des Moines Teen Center Burglary

Components to an X Box system and Wii game were taken in an overnight break-in at the teen center on Nov. 10, according to West Des Moines Police.

Burglar Pries Safe Open at Felix and Oscars Restaurant But Leaves Boxes of Alcohol Behind

A thief pried open the door of a safe at the eatery, but forgot to take along two boxes of alcohol.

Police Arrest Suspected Thief at Gunpoint in Wells Fargo Bank

An Urbandale man charged with shoplifting 12 stocking caps and hats was arrested at gunpoint after he ran into a nearby Wells Fargo Bank.

Thief Drives Vehicle Into Scott's Shoppe, Steals Cash Register Say Police

A stolen Chevy Impala was used by thieves to bash down the front doors of Scott's Shoppe service station last week, according to the West Des Moines Police Department.

West Des Moines Firefighters Quickly Extinguish Early-Morning Blaze

Occupants of home on Ashworth Road were using fireplace.

Boyfriend Allegedly Ran Over Woman Because She Didn't Want Him Near Another Woman

The West Des Moines victim says a knee injury suffered in the mishpa requires her to use crutches.

Eight October Story Lines You Loved: Shawn Johnson, Gabby Douglas, Allegedly Drunk Republican, Judicial Retention, Political Cash and More

Farewell October. We celebrated West Des Moines Patch's first anniversary all month long with stories you couldn’t get enough of.

Avoid I-35 Southbound on Evening Commute

A semi-truck that wrecked and caught fire this afternoon has kept traffic on Interstate 35 southbound at a standstill.

West Des Moines Police Take Suspects to Jail – Literally Biting, Kicking and Screaming

Two people were arrested this week for assaulting police officers in two separate incidents. What did they have in common?

West Des Moines Firefighters Wear Pink Ribbons to Fight Breast Cancer

Firefighters sold T-shirts to raise money during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

When Intoxicated Pair Who Met in AA Quarrel, West Des Moines Police Step Up

Police wade into the “he said, she said” world of alleged addicts.

Nanny Tells West Des Moines Police She’s Being Harassed by Urbandale Mom

After she gave notice and quit, her employer allegedly posted an uncomplimentary reference on a nanny site and now she's locked out.

Thieves Took Everything But Kitchen Sink, Returned to West Des Moines House Later to Get It

A clue – a can of Mountain Dew - was dusted for fingerprints.

Volunteer Bakers Needed for 9th Annual Great Cookie walk of West Des Moines; Deadline Approaching

One cookie at a time, nearly $43,000 has been raised for the Youth Justice Initiative, a restorative justice program that gets high marks for participants' low recidivism rate.

West Des Moines Girl, 12, Receives Obscene Photo After Online Chat

The girl was reportedly talking with her friends when an unknown male entered the chat room.

West Des Moines Police Investigate Fight Allegedly Starting Over Cigarettes, Ending in Drug Tip

Woman who allegedly assaulted former boyfriend tells police she wasn’t mad about lost cigarettes, but about alleged California-Iowa drug connection.

West Des Moines Fire Department to Distribute Free Smoke Alarm Batteries

With the end of Daylight Saving Time approaching, this is a good time to change smoke alarm batteries – and if you live in Valley Junction, the fire department may do it for free.

Dancer at West Des Moines Strip Club Receives Broken Nose in Fight

An argument between two dancers allegedly started over a text message.

Gunfire Interrupts West Des Moines Party for Soldiers Returning from Afghanistan

A police report said uninvited guests “started to cause problems” and were asked to leave a get-together welcoming soldiers home.

Allegedly Drunken October Swim at West Des Moines Beach Lands Couple in Hot Water

Police asked the pair about clothing an officer found nearby on a rock and they said they were cold.

$1,000 Reward Offered to Catch Suspects in SUV Break-in, Credit Card Theft

Polk County Crimestoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of suspects in this case.

West Des Moines Police Hear Naked Truth About a Relationship Gone Sour

Unfriended and blocked, woman learned from her friends how former boyfriend’s alleged harassment.

Motorist Tells Police a Driver with Road Rage Rammed Her Car on Freeway

After confusion over jurisdiction, several witnesses called Westcom Dispatch to tell authorities what they witnessed on Interstate 235.

Woman Tells Police Being a Republican Should Keep Her Out of Jail

A diner at P.F. Chang's China Bistro told police he was afraid the Council Bluffs woman might hurt one of the employees after they tried to eject her for her political rant.

Victims Coming Forward in Alleged $3.8 Million Payroll Fraud by West Des Moines Company

A local excavating company claims hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses for InFocus Partners’ alleged failure to make payroll tax payments since 2009.

Men Charged with Robbing West Des Moines, Ankeny Kum & Go Stores Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison

The plea was in connection to an incident that occurred in May.

West Des Moines Fire Department Observes 2012 Fire Prevention Week

Open house and pancake breakfast will be held Saturday.

Woman Tells Police She Was Sexually Assaulted After Hot Tub Party

In another case, West Des Moines police and fire officials investigated a fire in a tree, then a broken window in the same neighborhood.

UPDATE: Victim of House Fire Told Police Someone Was Trying to Kill Him

The West Des Moines fire marshal says it appears the house did not have working smoke alarms when it caught fire Friday morning. One of the residents called police Saturday to say he smelled gasoline in the house.

Police Shoot and Kill Mountain Lion in Des Moines Metro

The six-foot long mountain lion made a threatening move toward Des Moines Police officers and was killed. The incident took place about 8 miles from the First Street and Grand Avenue in West Des Moines.

Suspicious Fire, Suspicious Motives: West Des Moines Police Blotter

Did a disgruntled customer set fire to a credit union's fence? Why were no charges filed after a fight at a child-care center?

Elderly West Des Moines Woman Reports Losing $150,000 in Lottery Scam

The woman wired money after receiving repeated calls from people claiming to be with the IRS and investment companies, say West Des Moines Police.

How Not to Woo the Woman You're Infatuated With: Dead Flowers and Football Slippers

A woman reports that a grade-school classmate from Waukee became infatuated with her a year ago and has begun leaving unusual gifts at her door.

Birthday Celebration Ends in Gunshots in West Des Moines

An Urbandale man was attacked and a Johnston man was sent to the hospital after a melee at a West Des Moines motel.

West Des Moines Mall Kiosks Lose Hundreds of Dollars in Overnight Theft

The suspect in thefts from kiosks at Jordan Creek Town Center is shown on video surveillance, police say.

West Des Moines Man Sues Over Injuries from Bar Fight

The man is suing for injuries he claims he suffered in a 2010 bar fight at the Last Chance Saloon on an Indian reservation in North Dakota.

UPDATE: Police Identify Driver Killed at West Des Moines Interchange

The accident happened just before 6 a.m. at the interchange of Interstates 235, 35 and 80, West Des Moines authorities said.

Metro Developer Walters Pleads Guilty to One Count of Bank Fraud

Randy Walters admits he used a loan from a West Des Moines bank intended for a condo project to instead buy a Florida vacation home and pay a Johnston tax bill, according to court records.