Adair County

Dustin Benge, 40, of Greenfield, was taken into custody 9:38 p.m. March 13 on NW 2nd Street in Greenfield on the charges of possession of a controlled substance - methamphetamine, second offense and driving while revoked.

According to a Greenfield Police report, a red lawnmower was observed traveling down the street with no front or rear lights. A traffic stop was conducted due to the equipment violations. The driver, identified as Benge, who is known to have a revoked license, got off the mower and approached the patrol car.

Adair County Dispatch confirmed the revoked status of his license and Benge was advised he was under arrest. During a search incident to arrest, a baggie containing a white crystalline substance, which field tested positive for methamphetamine, and an unused hypodermic syringe were located on Benge’s person.

Benge was transported to the Adair County Jail where he was released from after posting $3,000 cash or surety bond.

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Shannon Snyder, 29, of Stuart, was taken into custody 3:24 a.m. March 14 on Stuart Road for the charges of possession of a controlled substance - marijuana, second offense; possession of a controlled substance - cocaine, first offense and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to a Stuart Police report, at approximately 1:32 a.m. officers stopped a 2007 Dodge Dakota for not having a working plate light. While speaking with the driver, identified as Snyder, the odor of marijuana was detected coming from the truck. A probable cause search of the vehicle was done in which officers located a flashlight containing a plastic wrapped white powdery substance, later identified by Snyder as cocaine. Snyder had a marijuana pipe and marijuana hidden in her bra, which she advised officers of.

Snyder was transported to the Adair County Jail where she was released from after posting $2,300 cash or surety bond.

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Manual Avila Leanos, 23, of Des Moines, and Ramiro Mendez, 24, of Marshalltown, were taken into custody 4:13 p.m. March 14 on Interstate 80 and charged with possession of a controlled substance - marijuana. It was a third offense for Mendez and second offense for Leanos.

According to an Adair Police report, at approximately 2:50 p.m. officers observed a Honda Civic near the 76 mile marker, eastbound, with illegal tint on the front windows. A traffic stop was initiated and made contact with the driver, identified as Mendez, and passenger, identified as Leanos.

While speaking with the driver, the odor of marijuana was detected. The driver explained he had smoked in the car the day before and the smell was probably from then. Officers conducted a probable cause search after having both the driver and passenger exit the vehicle. A backpack and duffle bag full of marijuana and marijuana products, such as edibles, were located in the trunk. Two marijuana vape pens with wax were located in Leanos front pocket.

Mendez told officers the backpack was his. Avila was asked if the other items belonged to him, at which time he requested a lawyer.

Mendez and Leanos were transported to the Adair County Jail. Leanos was released on a $2,000 cash or surety bond. Mendez was released after posting $1,000 cash or surety bond.

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Abraham Pena, 26, of Peterson, New Jersey, and Darielfy Pena Ortega, 22, of Raleigh, North Carolina, were taken into custody 9:15 p.m. March 14 on 5th Street in Adair on the charges of failure to affix drug tax stamp, possession of a controlled substance - marijuana, first offense and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance - cocaine.

According to an Adair Police report, at approximately 8:48 p.m. officers observed a Dodge Charger run a stop sign at 5th and Flag streets. A traffic stop was initiated and contact was made with the driver, identified as Pena, and passenger, identified as Ortega. The odor of marijuana was detected coming from the vehicle. Pena told officers he had smoked in the vehicle a couple days prior while in Oregon. Both Pena and Ortega denied any marijuana being in the vehicle.

A probable cause search was conducted. A package of marijuana and a package of marijuana edibles were located in the center console, seven kilos of a white powder substance, packaged in brick form, were located under the luggage in the trunk in the spare tire compartment. The substance later field tested positive for cocaine. While further searching the vehicle, more marijuana was located under the hood in the cabin air filter compartment.

Pena and Ortega were transported to the Adair County Jail where Pena is being held and Ortega was released from on a $25,000 cash or surety bond.

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Danny Robinson, 64, of Des Moines, was taken into custody 7 p.m. March 15 on Highway 92 and Pinewood Avenue on the charge of possession of paraphernalia.

According to an Adair County report, at approximately 6:45 p.m. deputies conducted a traffic stop on a 2005 Ford Five Hundred for excessive speed. Contact was made with the occupants of the vehicle, including the passenger, identified as Robinson. Deputies detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and conducted a probable cause search. A green leafy substance was located in the front passenger’s seat between the center console and seat and two “one-hit” style pipes containing marijuana residue, were located in a brief case Robinson admitted to being his.

Robinson was cited and released from the scene on a summons to appear.

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Anthony Runner, 35, of Des Moines, was taken into custody 9:49 p.m. March 16 on Interstate 80 eastbound near mile marker 97 on the charges of driving while license revoked, child endangerment and OWI, third offense.

According to a Iowa State Patrol report, at approximately 9:25 p.m. a Chevrolet Silverado was observed on radar traveling 91 mph in a 70 mph zone. A traffic stop was initiated and contact was made with the driver, later identified as Runner, and four children ranging in ages from 5- to 9-years-old, who were passengers in the vehicle.

After running Runner’s information, it was found that his driver’s license was revoked. While speaking with Runner, the odor of alcohol was detected coming from his breath and his eyes appeared bloodshot and watery. Robinson’s balance was reported to be impaired and his speech was slurred.

Runner was transported to the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, where he consented to and failed field sobriety testing. A PBT result indicated a BrAC of higher than .08%. A breath specimen was requested for chemical testing but Runner refused.

Runner was released from the Adair County Jail after posting $8,000 cash or surety bond.

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Dean Griffith, 51, of Bridgewater, was taken into custody 9:39 p.m. March 17 in the 200 block of East Iowa Street in Greenfield on the charges of public intoxication and assault.

According to a Greenfield Police report, at approximately 9:26 p.m. officers were called to the Greenfield Bowling Alley for a report of a man outside who was bleeding from the head due to a fall. When officers arrived, they were met by several people who were attending to the victim outside, who witnesses said was unconscious prior to their arrival.

A female witness told officers she saw the victim being shoved out of the door while being hit by Griffith. She stated she jumped in between the men and then Griffin turned and hit another male. Officers went inside the business and spoke with the wife of the business owner who told them she had witnessed Griffin hit the injured victim causing his to fall against a wall, when she told Griffin to stop, he put his hands on her shoving and hitting her.

Officers made contact with Griffin who was observed to have slow, delayed speech; the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and impaired balance, swaying side to side while walking to the patrol car and having difficulty getting in the car. He refused PBT testing. Griffin admitted to hitting the victim with a closed fist.

Griffin was transported to the Adair County Jail where he was released from after posting $300 cash or surety bond.