Iowa State Patrol
Justin Meade, age 53, of Iowa City was booked into the Winneshiek County Jail at 10:20 a.m. Friday, July 26 on three arrest/bench warrants. Criminal complaints in the case say the Iowa State Patrol observed multiple vehicles and people on the shoulder of the road at approximately 5:50 p.m. Wednesday, July 24 along Highway 52 near Scenic River Road. Individuals on scene told the responding state trooper “there was a man laying in the middle of the road with a dog on top of him.” The trooper approached the man — later identified as Meade — who was sitting in the ditch. The trooper asked Meade how he could help, according to the complaint — the trooper reported “the male told me to shut up multiple times and continued to use vulgar language.” The complaint went on to say Meade refused to provide identification, told the deputy to “shoot me” multiple times, threatened the trooper’s life and eventually “stood up, took off his shorts and was completely naked” before Meade approached the trooper “in a fighting demeanor,” the complaint said. Meade was detained by two state troopers and placed in handcuffs. He resisted arrest as he “continued to use vulgar language,” according to the criminal complaints. Meade was charged with first-degree harassment, interference with official acts and assault on persons in certain occupations.
Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office
Mark Herman, age 63, of Bellevue was cited for failure to obey a traffic control device following an accident at approximately 2 p.m. Monday, July 22 at on Highway 150 in Calmar. Herman was reportedly eastbound on Highway 24 in Calmar when he ran a stop sign at a four-way stop. A vehicle driven by 75-year-old Michele Elsbernd of Calmar was entering the intersection lawfully when Herman ran the stop sign and drove in front of her vehicle, which hit the passenger side of Herman’s vehicle. This incident was recorded on a video surveillance and observed by a Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Deputy. Damage estimates totaled $9,200. No injuries were reported.
Winneshiek Sheriff’s Office responded to an accident at approximately 12:03 a.m. Tuesday, July 23 on Maryville Street in Calmar. Bruce Gerleman, age 50, of Decorah was reportedly backing out of a parking spot in a private lot and backed into a vehicle stopped at a stop sign. He was arrested for operating while under the influence — a serious misdemeanor — and was transported to the Winneshiek County Jail.
Stella Ransom, age 23, of Decorah was cited for failure to maintain control after a July 23 accident on Wagon Road. Investigating officers reported Ransom was traveling too fast for conditions while heading south along the road. She attempted traversing a corner to the right, losing control of the vehicle and sliding into the ditch. Side curtain airbags were deployed. Damage estimates totaled $7,500 to Ransom’s 2014 Chevy Impala. No injuries were reported.
Travis McIntyre, age 50, of Eldorado was arrested July 23 and booked into the Winneshiek County Jail at 5:40 p.m. Tuesday, July 23 on an arrest warrant for failure to appear on citation and violation of no contact/protective order contempt.
Leighton Gaul, age 29, of Cresco was booked into the Winneshiek County Jail at 6:05 p.m. Friday, July 26 to serve seven consecutive days. Court documents show Gaul pleaded guilty in late May to a charge of operating while intoxicated — second offense — originally filed in late 2022.
Brian Yetter, age 44, of Decorah was booked into the Winneshiek County Jail at 5:20 p.m. Saturday, July 27 on the charge of violating conditions of a restricted license. A criminal complaint said the Winneshiek County Dispatch received a report of what was described as an extremely intoxicated male getting into a black pickup at approximately 4:25 p.m. Saturday, July 27. A sheriff’s deputy located the vehicle approximately three minutes later — the criminal complaint noted the truck had a flat tire and was having difficulty staying in its lane of traffic. The truck was stopped near Casey’s Convenience Store along Old Stage Road in Decorah, and deputies discovered the vehicle Yetter was driving did not have an ignition interlock device, which his license required, according to the complaint. Yetter was placed under arrest and his blood alcohol concentration was found to be more than twice the legal limit to operate a vehicle in Iowa.
Braiden Todd, 16, of Calmar was cited for failure to maintain control following a July 25 accident on County Road B16. The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office received a report from a third party stating they came upon a male walking in the road after his vehicle had rolled. Upon arriving at the scene, the investigators stated a vehicle was located upside down near 2624 County Road B16. Todd appeared to have minor injuries and did not appear intoxicated. He reportedly fell asleep at the wheel while driving west on B16. Todd’s vehicle, a 213 Ford Escape SUV, was totaled in the accident.
Jeffrey Schmitt, age 37, of Fort Atkinson was booked into the Winneshiek County Jail at 2:10 p.m. Sunday, July 28 to serve seven consecutive days.
Decorah Police
A Decorah Police Officer observed an ongoing disturbance at approximately 2:11 a.m. Friday, July 26 in the 100 block of East Main Street in Decorah. After an investigation, police arrested 41-year-old Dustin Tobin of Decorah for public intoxication, disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana. Tobin was transported to the Winneshiek County Jail.
Jared Dansdill, age 35, of Decorah was booked into the Winneshiek County Jail at 2:50 a.m. Saturday, July 27 on the charge of public intoxication — first offense. A criminal complaint filed by the Decorah Police Department said Dansdill was found “prone and unresponsive” at approximately 2:29 a.m. Saturday, July 27 behind a business in the 300 block of Washington Street in Decorah. The officer checked Dansdill’s pulse and was able to wake him up. The officer observed signs of intoxication and placed Dansdill in handcuffs before transporting him to the county jail.
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