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.
At 1:45pm on March 14, 2026, Oelwein Police charged Mario Joseph Pirillo, 63, of Oelwein, with Illegal Burning in violation of Oelwein City Code. Pirillo was issued a citation and summons to court for the violation, which originally occurred on March 10, 2026, when an Officer observed and responded to an illegal burn in progress in the 1800 block of Palace Rd.
At 2:17am on March 12, 2026, Oelwein Police arrested Ednan Salkic, 27, of Waterloo. Salkic was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) 1st Offense - Serious Misdemeanor and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Simple Misdemeanor. This arrest was made following a traffic stop in the 10 block of 6th Ave NW. Salkic was also issued a written warning for Unauthorized Lighting Device Color.
At 1:05pm on March 10, 2026, Oelwein Police responded to a report of a shoplifting-in-progress in the 10 block of S Frederick Ave. As a result, officers arrested Joshua James Downing-Shay, 40, of Oelwein. Downing-Shay was charged with two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd Offense - Aggravated Misdemeanor and 5th Degree Theft - Simple Misdemeanor.
On March 9, 2026, at 6:02pm, Oelwein Officers arrested Mellony Jean Harris, 37, of Oelwein. Harris was arrested on 2 Fayette County Warrants. Warrant one was for Probation Violation – original charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance. Warrant two was for Violation of Pretrial Supervision for Possession of a Controlled Substance. This arrest took place in the 100 block of 1st Ave Se.
On March 8, 2026, at 3:34am, Oelwein Officers arrested Ema Madelyne Pauling, 25, of Waterloo for Operating While Intoxicated – 1st Offense – Serious Misdemeanor. This arrest took place as a result of a traffic stop conducted in the 1400 block of South Frederick.
At 5:48pm, Oelwein Officers responded to a report of a customer causing a disturbance in the drive through at a business in the 10 block of 1st Ave Se. Officers made contact with the driver. As a result, Vicki Lynn Leiss, 66, of Waterloo, was cited and released for Open Container – Driver.
At 6:34pm, Oelwein Officers conducted a traffic stop in the 300 block of 1st St Se. As a result, John Norman Klink, 31, of Oelwein, was cited and released for Driving While License Suspended.
At 8:37pm, Oelwein Officers arrested Elizabeth Nicole Stratton, 18, of Oelwein, in the 400 block of 1st St Ne. Stratton was arrested on a Fayette County Warrant, original charge, Theft in the 5th Degree – Simple Misdemeanor.
On March 6th, 2026 at 10:35 p.m., Oelwein Officers responded to the area of 3rd St and 7th Ave SE for a reported noise complaint. This response resulted in multiple charges. Eadin Van Nguyen, age 18 of Waterloo, was taken into custody on charges of Possession of Alcohol Under the Legal Age 1st Offense, Interference with Official Acts, two counts of Underage Possession of Vape Products, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (all Simple Misdemeanors) and Possession of Controlled Substance-Marijuana 1st Offense (a Serious Misdemeanor). Nguyen was placed into custody. Issued a Promise to Appear in court for Possession of Alcohol Under the Legal Age 1st Offense: Maricela Hernandez, age 18 of Waterloo; Camren Wood, age 18 of Waterloo; Deztin McMurrin, age 18 of Waterloo; Mollie Frey, age 18 of Traer; Latrell White, age 18 of Washburn; and 5 juveniles. Oelwein Officers were assisted by the Fayette and Buchanan County Sheriff’s Offices.
The Oelwein Police Department took a report of a shoplifting incident from a business in the 1300 block of Industrial Park Road occurring on March 4, 2026. Subsequent to investigation, Andrew James Rownd, age 22 of Stanley, was issued a Promise to Appear in court on a charge of Theft 5th Degree, Simple Misdemeanor.
On March 5, 2026, at 11:52pm, Oelwein Officers were called to a residence in the 10 block of 9th St Ne, for a report of an ongoing physical domestic assault with a subject possibly armed with a firearm. As a result, James Richard Beebe, 22, of Independence was arrested on charges of Threatened Intimidation with Dangerous Weapon – Class D Felony, Domestic Abuse Assault – 2nd Offense – Aggravated Misdemeanor, and Assault – Simple Misdemeanor.
On March 4, 2026, at 8:07pm, Oelwein Officers conducted a traffic stop in the 10 block of 9th Ave Se. As a result of this traffic stop, Loyd Leon Williams III, 39, of Oelwein, was arrested on a Buchanan County Warrant for Failure to Appear on Charge of Iowa Domestic Abuse Program – Contempt. Additionally, Williams was summoned to court for Driving While License Suspended.
At around 8:30am on March 2, 2026, Oelwein Police received reports that a backhoe traveling along S Frederick Ave was being operated by a driver with a suspended license. A couple minutes later a traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle in the 300 block of S Frederick Ave, where the driver was identified as Dennis Lee Weaver, 79, of Oelwein. Weaver was charged with Driving While License Suspended, being issued a citation and summons to court for the violation.
