CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Police have identified the person found dead on Friday morning in Cedar Rapids as 38-year-old Brittany Hopkins of Cedar Rapids. On Friday, police were called to the 2100 block of Westdale Drive Southwest at around 8:30 a.m. for a report of a body found. That’s in the area of Westdale Plaza and Ladd Library. Police said they are investigating the incident as a homicide. Police are asking that anyone with information regarding this incident contact them at 319-286-5491. Anyone with information can also contact Linn County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-272-7463.
DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC/KCRG) – Iowa Auditor Rob Sand is blasting the state Attorney General’s office over a case involving the city of Davenport. It has to do with about nearly $2 million Davenport paid to three former employees. The auditor is investigating those payments and wants access to recordings of private city council discussions where they may have been discussed. On Friday, the auditor filed paperwork asking a court to remove the AG’s office as its legal representative. In a statement Monday, Sand said his office had asked the AG’s lawyers to file a new brief on the auditor’s behalf. Instead, Sand said, the AG reworked the brief in a way that Sand said misrepresents the auditor’s position. Sand said his evidence shows that a former city attorney authorized the payouts to the former city employees without council approval. Now, Sand said, the former city attorney is trying to hide information from the auditor by saying it’s protected by attorney-client privilege. Sand said that instead of helping the auditor get access to that info, the AG is undercutting his authority and trying to take away some of the auditor’s investigative powers.
WASHINGTON (KCRG) – Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks has announced she will bring Riley Gaines as her guest to Trump’s joint address to Congress on Tuesday. Gaines is a former all-American swimmer at the University of Kentucky. Now, Gaines advocates for policies regarding women’s sports. “Riley embodies courage and leadership in the fight to protect fairness in women’s sports.” said Miller-Meeks. “She has refused to be silenced, standing strong for truth, equal opportunity, and the rights of female athletes across the nation. I am proud to have her by my side as we hear from President Trump about the future of our country.”
ARLINGTON, Iowa (KCRG) – An Arlington man was arrested and faces multiple charges after law enforcement said he kidnapped a minor, hit them, and made threats against them. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office said it was called to a home in the 10700 block of Cable Road in Arlington at around 11 p.m. on Friday. Deputies said a man was in the home and was armed with weapons, a thermal scope and had multiple minors with him. One of them was reportedly injured. A criminal complaint says one of the minors had been assaulted by the other at a different location, then that minor brought the injured minor to the home. That’s when the man, identified as 38-year-old Cody Smith, of Arlington, allegedly grabbed the minor who had assaulted the other minor, pushing them up against a wall. According to the criminal complaint the minor alleged Smith hit them multiple times, grabbed a pistol and made threats to harm the victim and the victim’s father. The sheriff’s office said multiple agencies responded and staged outside the home, attempting to make contact and de-escalate the situation. Smith exited the home and was taken into custody. Smith was charged with kidnapping, assault with a dangerous weapon and harassment. He was taken to the Fayette County Jail and was later released on bond. Investigators said they’re also investigating another assault at a different location, involving multiple children, that is related to this case. Law enforcement did not detail how that assault is related. This case remains under investigation, and additional charges are pending.
