CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A Cedar Rapids man has been charged after causing over $13,000 in property damage. Officials say that surveillance video shows Eugene Schmickle intentionally throwing rocks through the windows of multiple buildings in the Cedar Rapids downtown area on Thursday, April 25. Those buildings include the Paramount Theater, First Presbyterian Church, and Higley Building. Schmickle was charged with three counts of Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – On Sunday, April 28, Cedar Rapids Police were dispatched to the 400 block of Lewellen Dr. NW for a report of a potential domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, officials reportedly found the victim with a swollen right cheek, a bruised and bloody lip, redness around her neck consistent with being choked, and bleeding around her foot. Investigators say the injuries were consistent with being assaulted and that the condition of the residence was consistent with an altercation taking place. Officials also found a loaded AR-15 where the assault allegedly occurred. The victim told police that her abuser had the gun in his hand during the incident. Officials arrested Chad Stewart. He was charged with Use of a Dangerous Weapon in the Commission of a Crime and Domestic Abuse Assault – 1st Offense Causing Bodily Injury.
ANAMOSA, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa State Patrol is investigating a crash that killed a 96-year-old man from Ryan. The single-vehicle crash happened just before 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the 17000 block of Newport Road. According to Iowa State Patrol, preliminary evidence indicates Maurice Vincent Hennessey was traveling on the wrong side of the road when his car went into a ditch and hit a road sign. The car then re-crossed the road and hit a tree. Hennessey’s vehicle caught on fire and had to be put out by firefighters.
OTTUMWA, Iowa (KYOU/KCRG) – On Sunday, April 18, at around 7 in the morning, Ottumwa Dispatch received a 911 call saying a home at 19 Asbury Circle sustained a natural gas explosion. The husband and wife (they chose to not be named) were woken up by the explosion. The husband sustained burns to his lower arms and hands along with light burns to his face. Though startled, the wife was uninjured. The husband was taken to Ottumwa Regional Hospital and was released a couple of hours later. Ottumwa Fire responded within 6 minutes. Once they got there, they saw the gas meter had a gas-fed fire coming from it. While they were fighting the fire, gas could be seen oozing from under the driveway. This explosion blew out siding around the entire home, burned through the roof, and the shockwave from the explosion blew out the windows and flipped their front deck. MidAmerican Energy and Alliant Energy were called to the scene. Surrounding homes were checked for the presence of gas and no gas levels were found. MidAmerican Energy shut off gas valves to neighboring homes and they were on scene most of the day locating the source of the leak. This fire is still under investigation by the State Fire Marshal and MidAmerican Energy.
