A correctional officer was attacked by an inmate at the Anamosa State Penitentiary. It happened just before 2:30 p.m. on Friday. The officer was supervising a group of inmates when one began punching the officer, who retaliated with pepper spray and other defensive techniques. Other officers arrived to bring the situation under control. Authorities say the officer’s injuries appeared to be minor, but the officer was taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution. The inmate was not injured, and investigators are still working to determine whether charges will be filed.
An MMA fighter facing federal child pornography charges died while in custody in the Linn County jail after authorities say he hung himself. Just before 4 o’clock early Saturday morning, a jail officer found 44-year-old Travis Fulton of Parkersburg during a routine check of a dormitory-style cellblock. Life saving measures began immediately and Fulton was rushed to Mercy Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead an hour later. Investigators won’t say exactly how he hung himself, citing safety and security reasons. An autopsy will take place to confirm the cause of death. Fulton had been in custody since mid-February on a hold for federal officials after a grand jury indicted him on child pornography charges.
The Jones County Sheriff’s Office said Friday people floating on the Maquoketa River found human remains near the town of Canton. The remains were first found on July 3rd just south of Canton near 15th Avenue. A multi-day search by the sheriff’s office, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Jones County Conservation, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and K-9 cadaver dogs led to the discovery of more human remains. So far, the remains have not been identified, but the sheriff’s office did note they searched for a missing man along the river north of Canton last November at the Wild Wood campground. Justin Douglas Chambers was reported missing on November 20th of last year. The sheriff’s office did a search at the time but had to call it off due to inclement weather and “lack of information regarding his potential location.”
A Marshalltown middle school teacher facing charges of having inappropriate contact with a 13-year-old student has been found dead. Authorities said the body of 42-year-old Adam Eugene Edgington of Nevada was found Thursday night in his car parked in a field. The Story County Sheriff’s Office said he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Edgington’s death came a day after he was arrested and charged with sexual exploitation by a school employee. The allegation was reported to police in late June. Edgington was accused of kissing, hugging, holding hands with and fondling a 13-year-old several times within the last school year. The student was in one of his classes. Edgington had been scheduled to appear in court today regarding the charges.
An outage for Mediacom cable customers in parts of Cedar Rapids temporarily cut off service to just more than 1,000 customers Saturday night. Mediacom said that 1,043 customers were affected, with television, internet, and phone service interrupted. Officials said equipment on a utility pole caught fire, damaging a service line.
The federal government is promising to spend $500 million to encourage the construction of smaller meat processing plants located closer to farmers who raise chickens, pigs and cows, with the goal of diversifying the industry from the consolidation around large corporate owned processors. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, in Council Bluffs, announced the program Friday in addition to another $150 million to be used for existing small processing facilities to help them with unexpected costs the coronavirus pandemic caused, and to help them compete in the marketplace. Vilsack says the goal is to improve profitability for livestock farmers and better serve consumers who increasingly want to know where and how the animals they eat are raised.
