WATERLOO, Iowa (KCRG) – At approximately 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, residents in the 600 block of Wallgate Avenue noticed smoke and that their home caught fire. The family was able to evacuate the house with their pets. Firefighters on scene reportedly rescued one cat from the home. Officials reported severe fire damage to the 2nd story and smoke and water damage to the rest of the home. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – On Tuesday, Iowa City Police responded to the 300 block of Southgate Ave for a report of an individual entering the building and assaulting staff members. Police say 23-year-old Nezzy Conway came into the building and began physically assaulting staff members. Upon responders’ arrival, he then began assaulting law enforcement officers until he was detained. Police say during this time a suspicious backpack was left at the building. The Johnson County Metro Bomb Team safely removed the suspicious package which contained incendiary materials with an attached fuse. A search warrant was then conducted at his residence in the 300 block of S Dubuque St. Responders located incendiary materials consistent with those found in the backpack. Conway is charged with Possession of Incendiary or Explosive Device as well as an outstanding warrant Criminal MIschief in the 4th Degree – Failure to Appear (for an unrelated incident). University of Iowa Police are also charging Conway with Terrorism and Possession of Incendiary or Explosive Device from a related investigation. Additional charges are expected to follow.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Governor Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation for four Iowa counties in response to severe weather that occurred on Tuesday. State resources can now be utilized to respond to Emmet, Hancock, O’Brien, and Winnebago counties in regards to the governor’s proclamation. Qualifying residents in these counties may apply for the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program, which provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level for a family of three. The grants could be used for home or car repairs, replacement of food or clothing, or temporary housing expenses. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Human Services website at https://dhs.iowa.gov/disaster-assistance-programs. Residents may also apply to the Disaster Case Management Program would assign a case manager to work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice, and referral to obtain a service or resource. You can find more information on that at www.iowacommunityaction.org.
BATTLE CREEK, Iowa (KTIV) – Three people are injured after a house explosion in a northwest Iowa county Wednesday morning. The Ida County Sheriff says the explosion happened at about 9:30 a.m. north of Battle Creek in the 2300 block of Carriage Avenue. When the call came in about the explosion, first responders from surrounding towns were sent to the scene, including firefighters and EMTs. A neighbor says no one lived in the home, but several people were cleaning at the time of the explosion. Authorities say two of the people injured were taken to the hospital in Ida Grove, while the third person was sent to a Sioux City hospital. “There was an individual here who was outside the residence who was getting people out of the house when the responders arrived,” said Sheriff Harriman. “Our responders were on scene within five minutes of the 911 call. The Iowa Fire Marshal’s Office is handling the investigation. Right now authorities do not consider this a criminal investigation.
