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Megan E. Banda, 28, of Creston, was taken into custody 1:30 a.m. July 25, at Cherry and Buckeye streets on the charge of possession of a controlled substance - marijuana, first offense.
According to a Creston Police report, at approximately 12:21 a.m. a 2007 Ford Focus was stopped for having a headlight out. During the stop, Creston Police K-9 Olga was deployed to conduct a free-air sniff and alerted to the odor of narcotics.
A probable-cause search was conducted and several vapes containing THC were located. Banda also had a THC vape on her person.
Banda was cited and released at the scene on a summons to appear.
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Dennis P. Speed, 55, homeless, was taken into custody 9:19 a.m. June 25, in the 600 block of North Oak Street on an Iowa Department of Corrections warrant for the charge of violation of parole.
According to a Department of Correctional Services report, Speed violated the terms of his parole by failing to report contact with law enforcement March 28; failing to report to a scheduled appointment April 4 with his parole officer and testing positive for methamphetamine and marijuana in a May 7 urinalysis.
Speed was transported to the Union County Jail and held without bond until his parole board hearing.
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Shawn M. Crawford, 55, of Creston, was taken into custody 11:41 p.m. June 25, at Adams and McKinley streets on the charge of OWI, first offense.
According to a Creston Police report, at approximately 11:19 p.m. a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox traveling southbound on Cottonwood was observed crossing the center lane line, nearly striking a northbound police department unit. The Equinox then turned east onto Adams Street where it again crossed the center line and almost struck a westbound vehicle.
A traffic stop was conducted and contact was made with the driver, identified as Crawford, who was observed to have slurred speech, bloodshot, watery eyes and the odor of a consumed alcoholic beverage coming from his person.
Crawford consented to field sobriety testing and showed numerous clues of impairment. A PBT indicated his BrAC to be above .08%.
Crawford was transported to the Union County Law Enforcement Center where he consented to provide a breath specimen for chemical testing. The result of the test showed his BAC to be .152%.
Crawford was transported to the Union County Jail and held on $1,000 cash or surety bond.
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William A. Lemon, 67, and Juliann M. Edsall, 45, both of Lorimor, were taken into custody 1:07 p.m. June 25, at Taylor and Vine streets on the charges of possession of a controlled substance, third or subsequent offense and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to Creston Police reports, a 2008 Dodge Ram was stopped for traffic offenses. Contact was made with the driver, identified as Lemon and the front seat passenger, identified as Edsall.
Edsall made statements to officers about paraphernalia and drugs being located in the truck. Lemon also gave officers consent to search the truck. Multiple used syringes and a broken methamphetamine pipe were located in the center console under pieces of mail addressed to Lemon. A case containing used needles and a container of cotton balls soaked in a liquid that test positive for methamphetamine were found by the passenger seat. Edsall admittted to knowing the cases were there.
A flashlight was found in Lemon’s pants that did not work. A small baggie was found inside the flashlight containing methamphetamine. Lemon denied knowing about the baggie and stated he had just picked the flashlight up.
Lemon has two prior controlled-substance convictions in 2000, one in Union County and the second in Woodbury County. Edsall has a 2023 conviction in Dallas County and a 2025 conviction in Union County.
Lemon was transported to the Union County Jail where he was released from after posting $5,000 cash or surety bond. Edsall was transported to the Clarke County Jail and held on $5,000 cash or surety bond.
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Jeffrey D. Joiner, 47, of Red Oak, was taken into custody 2:08 p.m. July 26, in the 300 block of North Elm Street on the charges of driving while barred and OWI, second offense.
According to a Creston Police report, Joiner was stopped while driving a 2014 Dodge Durango due to being known by officers to possess a barred driver’s license.
During the stop, officers observed Joiner to have bloodshot, watery eyes and asked him about drug and alcohol use. Joiner admitted to drug use and alcohol consumption that morning. Joiner consented to field sobriety testing and showed validated clues of impairment, and ARIDE testing, which also showed indicators of impairment.
A drug recognition expert completed an evaluation and stated Joiner was impaired. Joiner refused to provide a urine sample for chemical testing.
Joiner was transported to the Union County Jail where he was released from after posting $4,000 cash or surety bond.
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James D. Michelson, 32, of Woden, was taken into custody 8:30 p.m. July 26, in the 100 block of West Taylor Street on the charge of driving while suspended.
According to a Creston Police report, at approximately 8:23 p.m. Michelson was observed driving a 2007 Pontiac Grand Am on Maple Street. Michelson was discovered to have a suspended license.
Michelson was cited and released at the scene on a summons to appear.
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Jose R. Marroquin, 24, of Sullivan City, Texas, was taken into custody 10:12 p.m. July 26, in the 900 block of South Sumner Avenue on the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to a Creston Police report, at approximately 1:43 a.m. a 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis was stopped for an equipment violation. Contact was made with the driver, identified as Marroquin, and the odor of marijuana was detected.
A probable cause search was conducted and numerous marijuana paraphernalia items were located. Marroquin made statements about the items belonging to him.
Marroquin was cited and released at the scene on a summons to appear.
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Trevor K. Benge, 40, of Creston, was taken into custody 1 p.m. July 27, in the 800 block of North Elm Street on the charge of driving while barred.
According to a Creston Police report, Benge was observed driving a 2022 Kia Telluride on Elm Street. Benge is known by officers to have a barred license.
Benge was cited and released from the scene on a summons to appear.
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Michael V. Cihak, 44, of Afton, was taken into custody 1:07 a.m. July 27, in the 100 block of West Taylor Street on the charges of OWI, second offense and carrying a weapon while intoxicated.
According to a Creston Police report, at approximately 12:42 a.m. a 1998 Dodge Ram was observed westbound on Highway 34 from South Chestnut Street. Officers behind the vehicle paced the Dodge at approximately 50 mph in a 35 mph zone and observed both driver’s side tires cross the center line of the road.
A traffic stop was conducted and contact was made with the driver, identified as Cihak, who had exited the vehicle. Cihak had bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech and the odor of a consumed alcoholic beverage emitting from his person.
Cihak admitted to drinking and stated he had less than 10 Coors Light beers. He made states about being at a bar but would not tell officers which bar. He consented to two field sobriety tests and showed numerous validated clues of impairment. When asked if he would consent to a PBT, Cihak told officers “I know i’m going to fail it” and “it’s going to go high.”
He was transported to the Union County Law Enforcement center where he denied consent to provide a breath sample for chemical testing.
During the course of the OWI investigation Cihak made admissions of having a loaded handgun on the front seat of the truck. The handgun was later retrieved from the vehicle.
Cihak was transported to the Union County Jail where he was released from after posting $3,000 cash or surety bond,
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Eli K. Ortega, 19, of Lenox, was taken into custody 3:10 a.m. July 27, in the 300 block of North Sumner Avenue on the charges of OWI, second offense, driving while suspended and interference with official acts,
According to a Creston Police report, at approximately 3:10 a.m. a 2010 Ford Escape was observed northbound on Jarvis Street at a high rate of speed, the vehicle turned west onto Mills Street, quickly turn north into the alley and turned off all the lights on the vehicle in attempt to avoid officers.
When the Ford turned into the alley it struck the curb. The Ford turned into the backyard of a residence on Sumner Avenue. A traffic stop was initiated. Officers observed a person laying on the ground in front of the vehicle. When officers yelled for the person to come toward the officer, the individual ran on foot around the front of the residence and ignored officers commands to stop.
As officers came around the house, a door was heard slamming and they could no longer see the person. In the vehicle, a wallet with Ortega’s ID in it.
Officers spoke with an individual in the house who told them Ortega was inside. Officers yelled for Ortega to come out and he complied. He stated he ran because he was scared of getting another OWI. He said he didn’t know how much he had drank but had been in Fontanelle drinking Busch Light earlier. Ortega had bloodshot, watery eyes and the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person.
He consented to field sobriety testing and showed validated clues of impairment. A PBT showed his BrAC to be above .08%,
Ortega was transported to the Union County Law Enforcement Center where he consented to provide a breath sample for chemical testing, the result of which indicated Ortega to have a BAC of .115%,
Ortega was transported to the Union County Jail where he was released from after posting 10% of a $3,200 bond.
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At approximately 1:42 a.m. July 27, Ashley Bird of Creston, reported the theft of a 2014 Chevrolet Cruz from the 600 block of North Maple Street.
The vehicle was later recovered in Creston.