CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Waterloo City Council Member Nia Wilder was charged with fourth degree theft on Friday afternoon. The theft occurred in a Walmart off of Southeast 14th Street in Des Moines. According to the police report, Wilder removed items from shelves in the store and scanned them on the Wal-Mart Plus Membership App while still in the store. She then deliberately removed $420.33 worth of store items from the app that she had previously scanned. Wilder was stopped at the exit by a loss prevention employee, where she admitted to the theft. She was then transported to Polk County Jail. Wilder is a Waterloo native and has served on numerous boards and committees in the city, ranging from the Waterloo Police Advisory Board, the North End Music & Arts Festival, The Grout Museum District and several others.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Just before midnight on November 29, a Buchanan County Sheriff’s Deputy noticed a speeding vehicle close to Main Street and Branard Street in Brandon. The Deputy pulled the car over and smelled a controlled substance. Therefore, he ran the driver and passenger’s personal information. During the investigation he discovered that one of the passengers, 18-year-old Brandon Martin from Milwaukee, had an active arrest warrant out of Wisconsin. Martin had an active arrest warrant for first degree Intentional Homicide. Martin has been charged in connection with a fatal shooting that happened in Milwaukee on October 28. A 15-year-old boy died during the shooting. Martin was arrested and taken to the Buchanan County Jail and is being held for extradition to Milwaukee. Further charges are pending for the controlled substance violations.
JOHNSON COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – Just after 6:30 Saturday morning, a 17-year-old male and an 18-year-old male were preparing to go duck hunting by Sandy Beach boat ramp. While they were setting up decoys with a canoe, one of the men’s waders started taking in water. He wasn’t able to get back into the canoe, but they were able to get to shallower water. Two rescue boats were sent and first responders saved both the men and their dog. One of the men was taken to a local hospital due to hypothermia symptoms.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI/KCRG) – Court records show a Polk City woman was under the influence of methamphetamine when she caused a crash that killed her son. KCCI reports Abby Amenson, 41, has been charged with homicide by vehicle-operating under the influence in the crash that killed 10-year-old Maxwell Amenson last summer. Authorities say she crossed the center line on Northwest Fisher Lane and hit another vehicle head-on July 7. Court records say authorities found drug paraphernalia and meth inside the woman’s purse in a search after the crash. According to the data from the Iowa Department of Transportation as of last Friday, 309 people have died so far this year on Iowa roads. That number is 21 fewer than at the same point in 2023. Over the last five years, an average of 350 people have been killed in crashes annually statewide.
