West Des Moines Police Assist Stalking Victim

Editor's Note: One or more names in this report have been redacted in light of additional documentation provided regarding this case.

Editor's Note: All information below is provided by police in incident reports and reflects when the incident occurred, not when an arrest was made or charges were filed. Charges do not always result in convictions.

Woman Reports Stalker Tracks Her to Jordan Creek Store
A woman whose job requires her to travel to cosmetics stores across the country reported to West Des Moines police last week that an unidentified man who has been stalking her for several years tracked her to a store in Jordan Creek Town Center, where she occasionally works.

According to an incident report on file at the West Des Moines Police Department, the suspect is a customer the woman assisted as part of her job at a men’s clothing store in Minneapolis several years ago. After that encounter, he started coming into the store, asking her coworkers questions about her and gathering other information about her life, and then tracked her whereabouts as she moved to other cities for her job.

The woman told police that she feared the man would show up again while she was working at the mall, and was concerned for her safety and that of her child. Police told her to remain in contact with them and also alert mall security of her concerns.

Police Think Vandalism to Cars Linked to Loud Parties
Several cars have been damaged in the parking lot of an apartment building at 1262 Office Park Road, and police think the vandalism may be related to loud, late-night parties at an apartment in the complex.

In one instance, a resident reported that several slurs were written in black marker on his vehicle’s windows while it was parked in the lot. On another, a word for male genitalia was scratched into the hood.

Police spokesman Lt. Jim Barrett said authorities don’t think individuals have been specifically targeted for vandalism because of their sexual orientation, and that the crimes are random in nature.

According to police reports, vandalism victims and non-victims interviewed in other cases at the complex said there have been numerous complaints about the late-ight parties, smoking in the hallways of the buildings, and beer containers left on the property.

From the Blotter
Oct. 16

A stereo valued at $1,100 stolen after the driver’s side window was shattered while it was parked overnight at 310 88th St.

A resident at 413 Fourth St. reported that someone threw or splattered some type of stain that covered the driver’s side of a Cadillac Seville from front to back.

Andreas Matthew Haffar, 19, of 5150 Raintree Drive, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia after he was stopped for speeding and failure to use turn signals. During a search, police found two marijuana pipes and a canine search later turned up a bag containing about 1 gram of marijuana.

Jennifer Susan Risolvato, 49, of 2912 Vine St., was charged with first-offense drunken driving at 900 29th St. The arresting officer said in his report that Risolvato veered out of the westbound lane of Ashworth Road in the 2800 block and he had to steer his eastbound marked patrol vehicle into the right-hand lane and slow rapidly to avoid collision.

Three people were arrested after police were called to Wellman’s Bar, 597 Market St., to break up a possible fight around 1:30 a.m. Jessica Anne Passick, 28, of 1742 Bennett Drive was charged with public intoxication and two others, Alex L. White, 25, of 8610 E.P. True Pkwy., and Corey Sane Coleman, 31, 1402 Douglas Ave., Ames, were charged with interference with official acts.

(name removed)

Police responded to 5122 E.P. True Pkwy. about 12:30 a.m. after a resident reported damage to items inside an apartment at the complex. At 2:37 a.m., they responded again after the resident reported a window at the house had been broken and the suspect was still on the property. After a foot chase with officers along the south side of the complex, Joseph John Leatherby, 28, of 15318 N.E. 22nd St., Huxley, was charged with public intoxication, fourth-degree criminal mischief and first-degree harassment, an aggravated misdemeanor.

Shawn Edward Clark, 39, of 2404 Forest Drive, Des Moines, charged with second-degree theft after police received a report of a golf ball being thrown at another vehicle in the vicinity of South 60th Street and Prairie View Drive. When officers ran the plates on a Ford Windstar van from which the golf ball was thrown, the vehicle came back as reported stolen from Anamosa from Clark's father; valued at $600.

Police took a report of the theft of a stolen checkbook from a parked vehicle at 500 Fifth St.

Poice took a report of the theft of the rear license plate of a vehicle parked at 329 Seventh St.

A vehicle parked at 4216 Plymouth Drive sustained about $900 damage when a one-inch hole was cut through its rear bumper.

Krysta Lyn Sizemore, 1104 W. Church St., Marshalltown, was charged with theft of a motor vehicle and forgery after she failed to return a vehicle she had borrowed from an acquaintance. The victim reported the incident to police after he made an online check of activity on his checking account and noticed a check for $600 had been written on his account and cashed by a woman bank officials identified as Sizemore. About $200 cash was also missing from the vehicle, according to police reports.

Police were called to 1800 36th St. about 1:30 p.m. to investigate the theft of $300 cash and a Greyhound bus ticket valued at $80. The victim had packed the items in a travel bag and was planning a trip to Branson, Mo.

Police were called to 210 S. Prairie View Drive to investigate criminal mischief. A door to the residence had been forced open, but nothing was reported missing.

Oct. 14

Ashley Nicole Neihls, 27, of 6855 Woodland Ave., was charged with harassment of public officials and operating a motor vehicle while her license was under suspension after police stopped her in the 400 block of Jordan Creek Parkway at 9 a.m. She was also charged on probation warrant for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police were called to 565 Wistful Vista Drive to investigate a report that a firecacker had been placed on the windshield of a car at that address and caused damage to the car when it exploded. The victim suggested to police that the responsible party was the same person who had “egged” her house two weeks before.

A 13-year-old juvenile was arrested at 901 S.W. 63rd St. and charged with possession of a controlled substance, then released to his parents.

Oct. 13

A 13-year-old student at Stilwell Junior High, 1601 Vine St., was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Hy-Vee Drug Store, 1010 60th St., reported credit card fraud to police.

Police reponded to Rex Mathes School, 1400 Vine St., after a 13-year-old juvenile reportedly started a fire using a lighter and a spray can of body spray. The fire was extinguished before it could spread.

Jennifer Lynn Gregory, 30, of 609 53rd St., was arrested at her home on a Jasper County Sheriff's Office warrant after police were dispatched to that address on a domestic disturbance. En route, they learned of an outstanding warrant on failure to appear for a pre-trial conference, and Gregory was arrested.

Police took a report from a woman who said she had been receiving credit cards she did not apply for in the mail. The woman told police she had been part of a group that visited the Iowa Correctional Institute for Women at Mitchellville some time ago, and that others who have visited the prison have also received credit cards they did not apply for. Police said the crime matches information in another case.

A West Des Moines resident reported her credit card company had advised her of an unusual amount of large purchases to her credit card in a short amount of time. She said she was not responsible for $5,927 in charges to the card.

Police investigated the theft of a wheel stolen from a vehicle parked at the back of Consignment Sales Corp., 2008 Fuller Road.

A resident at 2801 Scenic Valley Drive said a mailbox was knocked over and sustained about $100 damage after a pumpkin was thrown at it.

A West Des Moines resident reported attempted identity theft when an unknown person attempted to open an Expedia.com account with an $8,000 spending limit in the victim’s name.

Police took a report from a resident at 509 S. 33rd St. that someone had thrown a pumpkin at an exterior light at the residence, causing $400 damage.

A juvenile was charged with striking an unattended vehicle in the parking lot at 1725 Jordan Creek Pkwy. According to the report, the juvenile admitted to hitting the 2002 Toyota with her 1996 Oldsmobile Achieva, but blamed the incident on her “stupid car that is so old she can barely drive it.”

A resident at 340 Scenic Vista Drive reported the windshield of his car sustained about $150 damage when a pumpkin was thrown at it during the overnight hours.

Police were called to Bradley’s Bar, 1300 50th St., after a patron reported being hit from behind, knocked out and kicked in the face.

Oct. 12

Police were called to 3636 Westown Pkwy. to investigate vandalism to a 2010 BMW in the parking lot there. A witness reported seeing a white, newer model pickup enter the parking lot and park by the vehicle. According to the witness, an older woman with white hair emerged from the vehicle carrying a container and spoon, then spooning paint over the vehicle before leaving the area. Rain washed the paint off the car, and it does not appear to have caused permanent damage, according to police reports.

Brieann Christine Patrick, 4459 91st St., Urbandale, was charged with driving while barred as a habitual violator after police stopped her on a suspected seatbelt violation.

A resident at an apartment complex at 6579 Vista Drive reported to police the theft of thong underwear in multiple colors and other clothing from a dryer in a common laundry room used by tenants.