West Des Moines Police Blotter: Men Try to Lure Boy

Boy reports men tried to lure him into van
West Des Moines police are continuing their investigation this week into a report that two men in a van approached a 10-year-old boy and tried to lure him into the vehicle as the youth rode his bicycle in the 5400 block of Cody Drive.

According to Officer Bryan Grube’s report, the boy told him that a passenger in a white “boxy” or "carpenter’s van" said, “Are you lost, son? If you are, you better get in the van." The boy told police that the passenger then left his seat and appeared to be heading to the rear of the van.

The boy continued west on his bicycle and the passenger continued to call to him before the driver turned the van around in a nearby driveway. The incident was reported Sept. 26.

According to the police report, the boy described the two men as between 40 and 50 years old, both with gray hair. The boy described the driver as wearing glasses, and said the passenger had a scar below one eye. The boy said the steering wheel of the van had a furry orange cover and the driver's seat appeared to have a black cover with white polka dots and a cut near the head rest. 

Anyone with information about the vehicle or the men should call the West Des Moines Police Department at (515) 222-3320.

Sixth-grader faces assault with a weapon charge
An 11-year-old Hillside Elementary School sixth-grader faces charges of assault while displaying a weapon after he allegedly threatened a school employee Friday afternoon.

Angela Beth Calhoun, director of special education for West Des Moines Schools, told Officer Andy Countryman that the student was angry about disciplinary actions taken against another student. According to Countryman’s report, the student “found a pair of scissors in the desk and was holding them with the pointed end out. The offender started to walk toward the victim, threatening to stab her.”

When he was about six feet away from Calhoun, another school employee, Tiffany Webb, was able to approach the student from behind, put her arms around him to control him, and take the scissors from him, according to the report.

In his report, Countryman said the student told him that he didn’t intend to stab anyone.

The matter has been referred to school officials, and the boy was released into the custody of his mother.

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

Incident reports
Oct. 3

Tomas Davis IV, 25, 730 46th Place, was charged with domestic assault causing injury and public intoxication.

Oct. 2

James Logan Bell, 512 S. 19th St., 28, reported that he was the victim of a hit-and-run accident at the intersection of Fuller Road and Grand Avenue. His vehicle sustained minimal damage.

William Montoya Edgard, 42, 2154 E. Walnut St., Des Moines, was charged with fifth-degree theft and harassment of public officials in connection with the theft of $45 worth of merchandise from the Younkers store at Jordan Creek Town Center.

Oct. 1

Police are investigating a case of attempted extortion after a 26-year-old West Des Moines woman reported that she received phone calls from a man claiming to be with a collection agency and asking for payment of a bad check. According to the police report, the caller said that if the woman did not pay the debt, a warrant would be issued for her arrest and she would be taken into custody at work. The woman said the caller knew where she worked, her birthday and the last four digits of her Social Security number. She provided police with two telephone numbers from her caller ID.

Five people were charged with third-degree theft and interference with official acts in connection with the theft of hats valued at $740 from the Capz store at Jordan Creek Town Center. When police were called, the suspects allegedly had 16 hats in their possession. Another 14 were found after they were seen near their vehicle by mall authorities. Charged were Jusu Moses Carter, 21, 3716 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines; Tarlu Brooks, 22, 3 E. Phillips St., Des Moines; and three juveniles.

Kristopher Lawrence Erdman, 20, 2270 Bell Ave., Des Moines, and Nicholas Michael Fazio, 20, 401 S.E. Miller, Des Moines, were charged with public intoxication, falsifying driver's license and misuse of driver's license at West Glen Town Center, 560 S. Prairie View Drive.

Sept. 30

Police are investigating a third-degree burglary case at Sun Prairie Apartments, 6387 Vista Drive, after six employees of Golden Touch/Relax Bodyworks kiosk at Jordan Creek Town Center reported that someone entered the apartment they share and stole the business’ receipts. Reported missing were $3,000 in cash, various credit card and check payments to the business, $5,400 in lease payments to Jordan Creek Town Center from the business, and rent checks to Sun Prairie Apartments.

Val-Air Ballroom, 301 Ashworth Road, was cited for violation of the city noise ordinance.

Police are investigating a third-degree burglary and theft of a bicycle valued at $2,500 from 2710 Meadow Lane.

Sept. 28: Two juveniles were released to the custody of relatives after each was charged with possession of a controlled substance in the vicinity of Clegg Road and Eighth Street at 9:26 p.m.

Walter Lawrence Oliver Hauser II, 22, of 6121 S.W. Creston Ave., Des Moines, was charged with domestic assault causing injury after an incident at 623 12th St. The alleged victim requested a no-contact order be issued.