BLACK HAWK COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – A small plane made an emergency landing near Girsch Road and East Washburn Road in Black Hawk County Wednesday afternoon. Just after 4:00 p.m., the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department received a report that a small plane went down. When officers arrived, they found a single engine plane in the entrance to a field. The plane was intact. No individuals were near the scene. Police later made contact with the pilot of the plane, who reported running out of fuel. After getting fuel, he took off. No further information is known at this time.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Two Black Hawk County deputies and one Bremer County deputy were determined to be justified in their use of force that led to the death of a Waterloo man. On December 15, 2024, a Waterloo officer attempted to pull Willie Earl Washington over due to a non-functioning break light. Washington refused to pull over, resulting in two separate high speed chases. Washington was eventually stopped by Bremer County police after they deployed stop sticks near a highway exit, puncturing Washington’s two front tires. Two deputies attempted to remove Washington from his car, but he refused. Eventually, three deputies were able to remove Washington and lower him to the ground. He continued to fight back, telling the officers he couldn’t breathe. Washington continued to talk to the police officers as they secured two sets of handcuffs on him. By the time they were secured and Washington was turned onto his side, he was unresponsive. The deputies detected a pulse and heartbeat and attempted to provide medical assistance. However, Washington was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Washington was on the ground for a total of 87 seconds. After an investigation of medical records, it was determined that Washington’s heart was double the size of an average heart, which explained his previous comments about struggling to breathe. Washington also had methamphetamine in his bloodstream at the time of his death. His cause of death was determined to be a combination of factors, including cardiorespiratory arrest, an enlarged heart, obesity, methamphetamine use, and positioning.
MANSON, Iowa (KTIV/KCRG) – Authorities believe drugs are the cause of death for two people found dead in a rural home in Pocahontas County, Iowa. The local sheriff’s office says on Monday they responded to 32351 590th Street, located several miles northeast of Manson. According to the Pocahontas County Sheriff’s Office, they found inside the home the bodies of 61-year-old Lynnette Walstrom and 52-year-old Jeremy Schuttler, both Manson residents. The Palmer Fire Department was called in to test for the presence of carbon monoxide and they determined none was present. After further investigation, the sheriff’s office found various drug-related items, including fentanyl. “At this time the deaths are believed to be drug-related pending toxicology results from the autopsies at the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office,” stated the Pocahontas County Sheriff’s Office in a press release. “There is no foul play suspected at this time.”
SIOUX CITY (KTIV/KCRG) – A correctional officer for the Woodbury County Jail has been charged after he allegedly assaulted and injured an inmate. Court documents show 29-year-old Austin Svendsen has been charged with serious assault, a misdemeanor, for an incident that reportedly happened on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. According to those documents, an inmate at the Woodbury County Jail was told to move to another cell, during which the inmate started to argue with the jailers. At some point, Woodbury County Correctional Officer Austin Svendsen allegedly grabbed the inmate. Court documents claim Svendsen and other jailers then took the inmate to the ground after which Svendsen reportedly struck the inmate in the abdomen with his knee. He is also accused of striking the inmate’s face multiple times while they were on the ground. Court documents state Svendsen was struck in the head and face and this all “took place when other officers were getting control of the victim.” The inmate reportedly suffered cuts, bruising and a concussion because of this incident. Woodbury County Sheriff Chad Sheehan says Iowa’s Division of Criminal Investigation was brought in to investigate this incident to ensure transparency. KTIV reached out to DCI to learn the inmate’s identity and why they were being held in the Woodbury County Jail. They said that information is not being released at this time but confirmed that Svendsen is the only person being charged for this incident. Sheriff Sheehan says Svendsen has been on administrative leave since the incident was first reported and posted bond following arrest. Under Iowa law, the serious assault charge has a penalty of up to one year in county jail, or a fine ranging from $315 to $1,875. After the DCI investigation had been finished, Sheehan says the sheriff’s office began an internal investigation that will play a part in determining Svendsen’s future employment with the office. That investigation is expected to be completed and submitted by the end of this week.
