Reports from the Winneshiek County Sheriff and Decorah PD

Winneshiek Sheriff

Winneshiek County Deputies responded to an apartment on NICC Drive in Calmar on June 12 at 1:06 a.m. after a call was received about subjects looking inside vehicles. Deputies arrived on scene and following further investigation, Leo Gallardo, 31, of Grantsville, Utah, was located and arrested. Gallardo was transported to the Winneshiek County Jail for aggravated misdemeanor burglary, 3rd degree, motor vehicle and simple misdemeanor criminal mischief 5th degree.

Zachary Polete, 31, of Oelwein, turned himself into the Winneshiek County Jail on June 12 at 9:25 a.m., and was arrested and booked into the jail on an arrest warrant for violation of probation.

Dennise Palmer, 39, of Mabel, Minn., was cited for failure to maintain control following an accident on 350th Street north of Decorah on June 10 at 2:08 p.m. A vehicle driven by 72-year-old Larry Turner of Harmony, Minn., was reported northbound on North Winn Road at the intersection with 350th Street, and began to make a left-hand turn. Palmer’s vehicle also was northbound, and she did not see Turner had slowed, and she was unable to avoid contact with Turner’s trailer. Palmer’s vehicle then spun out and came to rest in the northeast corner of the intersection, hitting the street signs on the roadway. Damages totaled $30,000 to Palmer’s 2017 Ford truck and $20,000 to Turner’s 2015 GM truck. There was $250 in damage to the street signs on the roadway. No injuries were reported.

Law enforcement was called to an accident June 12 at 1:01 p.m. on Iowa Highway 139 N and 345th Avenue. Nathan Logeais, 27, of Maple Lake, Minn., was operating a semi tractor with double trailers hauling a 140-foot concrete bridge beam traveling north on Highway 139. The driver was negotiating a right turn, and the back of the trailer went too far right and entered the ditch. The weight of the trailer and beam pulled the trailer further into the ditch, where the back trailer overturned, dumping the bridge beam off the trailer and partially onto the roadway. Several hundred thousand dollars of damages to property was reported. The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Howard County Sheriff’s Office, Cresco Fire Department and Howard County Engineer’s Office and Iowa Department of Transportation.

Officers responded to an accident June 11 at approximately 5:15 p.m. west of Decorah. Multiple calls were received about a two-vehicle accident near the intersection of Highway 9 and Madison Road near Ridgeway that was blocking the road. Callers stated there were injuries from the collision. Upon arrival, investigating officers found Kaitlyn Pelster, 20, of Petersburg, Neb., was entrapped in her vehicle. The driver of a second vehicle, McKenzie Stockman, 37, of Ridgeway, was walking around the scene. There were multiple witnesses stating the Stockman vehicle was eastbound and stopped on the highway because a vehicle in front of her was turning and was yielding for traffic. Pelster was also eastbound, and reportedly did not slow down and collided with the rear of Stockman’s vehicle. Both vehicles were totaled. Both drivers were transported to WinnMed by ambulance. The investigating officer reported the initial accident caused flying debris to damage a third vehicle driven by Travis Rue, 30, of Ridgeway. Damages to the Rue vehicle were estimated at $300. No citations were issued on the scene.

Tristan Shanks, 19, of Ridgeway, was involved in a single vehicle accident June 15 at 12:09 a.m., on 170th Ave., Decorah; and was arrested and booked into the Winneshiek County Jail for serious misdemeanor possession of controlled substance 1st offense, Shanks also was cited for failure to maintain control. Additional charges are pending.

Tracy Leuchtenmacher, 32, of Cresco, was arrested and booked into the Winneshiek County Jail June 14 at 6:10 a.m. on an arrest warrant for violation of pre-trial supervision.

The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a motorcycle in the ditch on Highway 150 near Festina on June 14 at 10:03 p.m. Subsequently, Kevin Higgins, 33, of High Ridge, Mo., was arrested and booked into the Winneshiek County Jail for operating while under the influence, possession of controlled substance, and possession or carrying of dangerous weapon while intoxicated.

Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office responded to an accident June 15 at 8:48 a.m. on Iowa Highway 9 East. A vehicle driven by 51-year-old Christopher Mincks of Postville, was stopped in traffic waiting for a vehicle in front of him to make a left turn onto another road, and traffic was coming from the other direction. A vehicle driven by 28-year-old Lesly Gonzalez of Postville was westbound and did not see the traffic was stopped. Gonzalez reportedly “panic-braked” and veered toward the north ditch. Her vehicle struck the rear right of the Mincks truck. Damage totaled $10,000 to the Gonzalez vehicle and $15,000 to the Mincks truck. Gonzalez was cited for failure to stop in assured, clear distance. Gonzalez reportedly stated she had pain in her shoulder, but denied medical attention.

Decorah Police

A Decorah Police Officer was on patrol June 14 at 10:24 p.m., when he observed a male subject stumbling on State Street outside of The Corner Bar. The officer observed the subject punching a light pole at the corner of Water Street and State Street. The officer contacted 50-year-old Jason Fairchild of West Union, who was initially uncooperative with the officer, until he was placed into custody for public intoxication. Fairchild was transported to the Winneshiek County jail. While at the jail, Fairchild was uncooperative, and began to make several threats to cause bodily injury and death to the arresting officer. Fairchild was booked into the Winneshiek County jail for public intoxication, interference with official acts, and 1st degree harassment.

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