MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (KCRG) – The Marshalltown Police Department has arrested a man following an investigation into a suspicious infant death. Police say they learned of the infant’s death at a Marshalltown emergency room on August 29. The infant’s body was autopsied by the state Medical Examiner’s Office, and investigations continued with the help of the state Division of Criminal Investigation. Around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, detectives arrested 19-year-old Yonatan Vasquez-Avalos, of Marshalltown. He face charges of first-degree murder, child endangerment causing death and domestic assault with strangulation. According to criminal complaint forms, Vasquez-Avalos attacked his pregnant girlfriend.
TAMA COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – A Tama County man accused of threatening to open fire at an event has been sentenced to six years in prison for illegally owning guns. 42-year-old Daniel Scott Carter of Elberon pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon earlier this year. In May 2024, Carter posted a photo on Facebook of an AK-47-style firearm with the caption, “Say hello to my little friend.” In the comment section of the same post, Carter threatened to shoot people at an upcoming community event. He said he would commit a, “baptism by blood.” In June 2024, law enforcement seized seven firearms, including a firearm that matched the one in the Facebook photo. In addition to his six-year term, Carter will serve a three-year term of supervised release.
WATERLOO, Iowa (KCRG) – Waterloo Police are warning the public of recent scams from fraudulent sellers on Facebook Marketplace. Waterloo Police say multiple people have reported being scammed while attempting to purchase heavy/farm equipment from websites claiming to operate in Waterloo. The two fraudulent websites/businesses are Motors Point Solutions, motorspointsolutions.com, and Horizon Elite Motors, formerly Motors Points Solutions, horizonelitemotors.com. Police say each fake business listing has been reported to Facebook Marketplace and the Better Business Bureau of Greater Iowa.
AMES, Iowa (KCCI/KCRG) – Iowa State’s longtime athletic director is leaving the university sooner than anticipated. Jamie Pollard confirmed on the “Cyclone Coaches’ Corner” show Tuesday that he is leaving after this Homecoming week. When host John Walters asked Pollard how emotional it’s been this week, Pollard said, “It hasn’t been as emotional as I thought … I’m sure it will be Saturday night when we clean out my office.” Pollard shared kind words for his athletic department colleagues and Iowa State coaches during the show. When Pollard shared news of his upcoming retirement in July, he planned to step down on June 30, 2027. However, he shared with KCCI that he would leave earlier if ISU found a replacement director and later said he expected to be done before basketball season. The university has not announced a new director. It launched a search for a replacement this fall. On Wednesday Pollard told KCCI that Saturday’s game against West Virginia will be his last home game and last day in the office. He will attend Big 12 Conference meetings next week, as well as ISU’s game at BYU on Friday, October 9. Pollard also said longtime senior associate athletics director Calli Sanders would also leave after this week.
