Home News Thursday Afternoon News, March 23rd

Thursday Afternoon News, March 23rd

Facebook Posting Helps Apprehend Fugitive

(Orange City) — A Facebook posting by the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office led to the arrest of a convicted fugitive. On Tuesday, the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office posted a notice on its Facebook page seeking the public’s help in locating 22 year old Peter Baccam of Sioux Center. Baccam was wanted by the
Sheriff’s Office for failing to appear for a jail sentence where he was required to turn himself in to the Sioux County Jail on Monday, March 13th.

Baccum

Baccam was then to be transported to the Iowa Department of Corrections in Oakdale to serve a two-year prison sentence for a conviction of domestic assault causing bodily injury. Baccam’s whereabouts remained unknown as he avoided apprehension from law enforcement. Following the post on Facebook, an anonymous person told a Sioux County Deputy Sheriff that they believed Baccam was staying at a residence in Sioux Center. The deputy relayed the tip information to the Sioux Center
Police Department who located Baccam at the residence reported by the tipster.
Upon further investigation, it was discovered by the Sioux Center Police Department that Baccam was in violation of a court ordered protective order as he was in the company at the residence of a person listed on the protection order as a protected party. On Tuesday, March 21st, at 5:16 p.m., Baccam was arrested on the outstanding arrest warrant for failing to appear and a new charge of violating a court ordered protection order.

 

Sioux County Authorities Investigate Vandalism To Pipeline

(Orange City) — The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office is investigating two reports of vandalism to the Dakota Access Pipeline. The two locations are just south of Hospers. During the prior 24 hours, someone had apparently attempted to burn
holes into the above ground valves at these two locations. Deputies responded and secured both locations. The F-B-I was contacted and is conducting the investigation of the incidents in Sioux County, as well as similar incidents in South Dakota and Iowa. The public is encouraged to report any suspicious
activity near any of the pipeline sites. If anyone has information regarding the damage to the pipeline, they should contact the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office or send an anonymous tip through Text-A-Tip program.

 

Iowa Senate Deals With Traffic Cameras

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Senate has approved a bill that would impose new rules for traffic enforcement cameras, but lawmakers rejected a proposed ban on the devices.
The Des Moines Register reports (https://dmreg.co/2ngjeo5 ) the Senate approved the bill Wednesday night after amending it to retain the cameras and impose the new rules.
Sen. Brad Zaun of Urbandale had sought to end use of the cameras but senators on a bipartisan vote decided to change the bill.
The cameras are used in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Muscatine, Davenport, Windsor Heights, Fort Dodge and Polk County.
The new rules would require officials to justify use of the cameras, and money generated from tickets would only go toward road construction or public safety.
The measure heads to the House.

 

Iowa Legislator Wants An Investigation Into Teen’s Death

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Republican lawmaker who leads a legislative oversight committee says he’s launching an investigation into how Iowa handles child protective services following the October death of a 16-year-old girl.
Rep. Bobby Kaufmann announced Thursday the House Government Oversight Committee will question the Iowa Department of Human Services on how it handles child placement, including abuse allegations.
Kaufmann says the effort is inspired by the death of Natalie Finn, a West Des Moines teenager. A Democratic lawmaker who has met with state officials says the girl was starved to death. The girl had been involved in the state’s foster care and adoption program.
Kaufmann says he wants DHS to attend hearings, but the questions will not be specific to Natalie’s case.
Gov. Terry Branstad and Republican lawmakers have criticized Senate Democrats for launching an informal investigation into child protective services.
Messages to DHS and Branstad were not immediately returned.

 

Dallas County, Iowa – 5th Fastest Growing County

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The U.S. Census Bureau says Dallas County was the fifth-fastest-growing county in the nation in the bureau’s latest estimate.
The bureau says in a report released Wednesday night that from July 1, 2015, to July 1, 2016, Dallas County’s population grew by 4.6 percent. The county population has increased by more than 27 percent since 2010.
Gary Krob of the State Data Center at the State Library of Iowa says that 2016 population estimates show that the state population continues to grow, but it’s occurring in just 23 of Iowa’s 99 counties. He says the Des Moines-West Des
Moines Metropolitan area has been the state’s fastest-growing metro area, increasing by 11.4 percent in population since 2010. Adams County has declined at the highest rate: 8.3 percent since 2010.