At 11:02pm on March 30, 2026, Oelwein Police conducted a traffic stop in the 300 block of S Frederick Ave, leading to the arrest of Rodney Leonard Tafolla, 58, of Oelwein. Tafolla was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd or Subsequent Offense - Class D Felony and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Simple Misdemeanor. Tafolla was also issued an Equipment Repair Order for a nonworking headlight.
At around 7:20pm on March 29, 2026, Oelwein Police responded to an accident involving two motorcycles. According to the investigation both motorcycles, a silver 2010 Harley-Davidson Sportster, ridden by Shawna Rinella of Oelwein, and a red 2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide, ridden by Austin Rinella of Oelwein, were travelling northbound on S Frederick Ave when a vehicle pulled out in front of them in the 600 block. Both motorcycles swerved to avoid a collision with the car, leading to one motorcycle clipping the rear tire of the other motorcycle with its front tire and going down. Initial estimates of damages are $1,000 to the motorcycle ridden by Mrs. Rinella and $500 to the motorcycle ridden by Mr. Rinella. Oelwein Police were assisted by the Oelwein Fire Department and Mercy One Ambulance Oelwein.
Release: Shooting Incident Leads to Arrest
On Saturday, March 28, 2026, at approximately 8:50 p.m., officers with the Oelwein Police Department were dispatched to a report of an individual who had sustained a facial injury during an incident.
Upon arrival and investigation, officers determined that an adult male victim had been shot in the face with a .22 caliber firearm following a dispute inside a residence located in the 500 block of 8th Street SW. Officers provided immediate medical aid to the victim until the arrival of MercyOne Ambulance.
The victim was transported to the MercyOne Emergency Department for treatment.
As a result of the investigation, officers arrested:
Donald Raymond Forney, 69, of Oelwein
Charges:
Willful Injury Causing Serious Injury, Class C Felony
Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Injure or Provoke Fear, Class C Felony
Going Armed with Intent, Class D Felony
Assault with Intent to Inflict Serious Injury, Aggravated Misdemeanor
Forney was transported to the Fayette County Jail pending an initial appearance. Additional charges are pending.
The Oelwein Police Department was assisted by MercyOne Ambulance and the MercyOne Emergency Department.
This incident remains under investigation.
On March 27, 2026, at 1:21pm, Oelwein Officers responded to and investigated a report of a vehicle verses house accident in the 100 block of 1st St NE. As a result of the investigation, a red 2005 Ford Ranger, driven by Mikala Smith, 20, of Oelwein suffered a mechanical failure while turning. The mechanical failure caused Smith to lose control of the vehicle, causing it to strike a house. There was approximately 2,500 dollars in damage to the vehicle and 2,000 dollars in damage to the house. Smith was issued a citation for No Valid Drivers License. There were no injuries reported. The Oelwein Police Department was assisted by the Oelwein Fire Department, Mercy Oelwein Ambulance, Midwest Collision and Towing, and Alliant Energy.
On March 24, 2026, Oelwein Police responded to reports of three juveniles at Oelwein Middle School and one juvenile at Oelwein High School possessing vape devices. As a result, citations were issued to a 10-year-old female juvenile, a 13-year-old male juvenile, a 14-year-old female juvenile, and a 16-year-old female juvenile. Each juvenile was issued a citation for Minor Using Tobacco/Vape Product 1st Offense.
On March 23, 2026, at 10:57pm, Oelwein Officers conducted a traffic stop in the 10 block of 1st St SE. As a result of the stop, Devin Lee Wallace, 29, of Oelwein, was cited and released for Driving While License Suspended. Wallace was additionally issued an Equipment Repair Order for a nonfunctioning headlamp.
On March 21, 2026, at 5:40pm, Oelwein Officers arrested Brian Lee Buhr, 56, of Oelwein. Buhr was arrested on 3 Fayette County Warrants for Violation of Pre-Trial Release (x2) and Failure to Appear. Additionally, Buhr was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance – 3rd or subsequent offense. Buhr was arrested in the 200 block of 8th St Sw.
At 2:55am on March 20, 2026, Oelwein Police responded to a noise complaint in the 600 block of S Frederick Ave, where officers discovered an underage drinking party. As a result, Roger Dean Hall III, 20, of Oelwein; Madilynn Star Markin Biretz, 18, of Oelwein; and Ricky Patrick McKeeman, 19, of Oelwein; were each issued a citation for Underage Possession of Alcohol - Simple Misdemeanor.
At 1:58am on March 21, 2026, Oelwein Police arrested Mason Mikal Conner, 24, of Oelwein, following a traffic stop in the 1000 block of 1st Ave SW. Conner was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) 1st Offense - Serious Misdemeanor and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Simple Misdemeanor. Conner was also issued a written warning for Improper Use of Lanes.
On March 16, 2026, Oelwein Police filed charges against a 14-year-old female juvenile relating to an incident that occurred at 7:50pm on March 11, 2026, in the 10 block of 1st Ave SE. The juvenile was charged with two counts of Assault - Simple Misdemeanor and one count of Disorderly Conduct (Threats) - Simple Misdemeanor. The juvenile's legal guardian has been notified, and the case has been referred to Juvenile Court.
At 7:55am on March 19, 2026, Oelwein Police responded to a two-vehicle accident that occurred at the intersection of 2nd Ave NE and 8th St NE. A white 2012 Nissan Quest, driven by Hanna Shay of Oelwein, was travelling eastbound on 8th St NE when they failed to yield to a white 2020 Kia Forte, driven by Anna Bratten of Oelwein, who was travelling northbound on 2nd Ave NE, resulting in a collision. Initial estimates of damages were $1,000 to the vehicle operated by Shay and $2,500 to the vehicle operated by Bratten. Shay was assigned fault for the accident and was issued a citation for Failure to Obey Yield Sign.
At 11:30am on March 19, 2026, Oelwein Police responded to a two-vehicle accident that occurred in the Fareway parking lot. A white 2016 Cadillac CT6, driven by Beverly Pepin of Oelwein, reversed out of their parking spot and collided with a white 2020 Ford Escape, driven by David Westcott of Wadena, who was travelling southbound. Initial estimates of damages were $2,000 to the vehicle driven by Pepin and $3,000 to the vehicle driven by Westcott. Pepin admitted to, and was assigned, fault for the accident.
At 9:58pm on March 19, 2026, Oelwein Police conducted a traffic stop in the 1400 block of Rock Island Rd on a vehicle that had been called in for erratic and dangerous driving. As a result, the driver, Hazi Holden Farmer, 19, of Wadena, was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated 1st Offense - Serious Misdemeanor, Underage Possession of Alcohol 1st Offense - Simple Misdemeanor, and Underage Use of Tobacco/Vape Products.
At 7:26pm on March 15, 2026, Oelwein Police responded to and investigated a single vehicle accident where a tan 1995 Nissan Pathfinder, driven by Mitchell Lee Wolford, 41, of Oelwein, slid off the road and struck a fire hydrant in the 300 block of 8th Ave SE. As a result of the investigation, Wolford was charged with Driving While License Suspended and Operating a Vehicle without Interlock Device - Simple Misdemeanor. Wolford was issued a citation and summons to court for these charges. In addition, Wolford was issued a citation for Careless Driving.