At 12:02pm on December 22, 2025, Oelwein Police received a report of a vehicle that had just been stolen from the Subway parking lot. At 12:07pm officers located the vehicle east of Oelwein, still being driven by the suspect, driving through a field near the intersection of L Ave and Highway 3. The suspect then led officers on a brief vehicle pursuit heading westbound towards Oelwein, continuing to drive the stolen vehicle through fields before stopping at a tree line and property fence at 12:13pm.
At 12:14pm the suspect, Paul Benjamin Trey, 41, of McGregor, was arrested. McGregor was charged with 2nd Degree Theft - Class D Felony, 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief - Class D Felony, Eluding - Serious Misdemeanor, and Driving While License Suspended.
At 11:45am on December 18, 2025, Oelwein Police received a report of two Oelwein Middle School students possessing vape devices. Both students, a 14-year-old male juvenile and a 13-year-old male juvenile, were issued citations for Minor Using Tobacco/Vape Product 1st Offense. Both juveniles were released to guardians afterwards.
At 1:25am on December 17, 2025, Oelwein Police arrested Michael Shane Story Jr, 30, of Oelwein. Story was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Bodily Injury - Serious Misdemeanor. This arrest was made the 500 block of W Charles St after officers responded to a 911 call reporting an active domestic situation.
At around 2:17pm on December 17, 2025, Oelwein Police responded to a report of a motor vehicle accident in the 300 block of 8th Ave SE. While backing out of a parking space, a black 2017 Jeep Wrangler driven by a 14-year-old female juvenile struck a parked gray 2012 Toyota Highlander owned by Jerome Koob. Initial estimates of damages were $1,000 to the vehicle driven by the juvenile and $2,500 to the vehicle owned by Koob. The juvenile was assigned fault for the accident
At 10:21pm on December 17, 2025, Oelwein Police charged Dru Jo-El Bowser, 30, of Oelwein, with Driving While License Suspended. Bowser was issued a citation and a court summons for the infraction following a traffic stop in the 10 block of 7th St SW.
On December 15, 2025, at approximately 8:20pm, Oelwein officers arrested Troy Edward Richards, 63, of Oelwein on 2 Fayette County warrants. Additionally, Richards was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance – 3rd or subsequent offense(x 2) – Class D Felony and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Simple Misdemeanor. This arrest took place in the 10 block of 3rd Avenue Northeast.
On December 14, 2025, at approximately 4:15pm, Oelwein Officers arrested Anthony James Taylor, 43, of Oelwein. Taylor was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance – Marijuana – 3rd offense – Aggravated Misdemeanor, Operation Without Interlock – Simple Misdemeanor, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Simple Misdemeanor, and Driving While Revoked – Serious Misdemeanor. These charges were the result of a traffic stop in 1300 block of 2nd St NW.
At approximately 8:45pm, Oelwein Officers conducted a traffic stop in the 200 block of 2nd Ave SE. As a result of the traffic stop, Richard Eric Woods, 54, of Oelwein was issued a Summons to Appear for Driving While Suspended. Additionally, Woods was issued a citation for Failure to Provide Proof of Insurance.
OELWEIN PUBLIC SAFETY
CITY OF OELWEIN, IOWA
Media Release DATE:
December 10, 2025
Release: Northeast Search Warrant Executed - Arrest Made
At approximately 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 9th, 2025, the Oelwein Police Department, with the assistance of the Fayette County Sheriff's Office, executed a search warrant in the 10 Block of 3rd Avenue NE in Oelwein. During the course of the search warrant, illegal controlled substances were located and seized. The following subject has been arrested and charged:
1) Troy Edward Richards, 62, of Oelwein
Possession of a controlled substance, 3rd or subsequent- Methamphetamine- Class D Felony Possession of a controlled substance, 3rd or subsequent- Marijuana- Class D Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Simple Misdemeanor
The subject was taken into custody and transported to the Fayette County Jail pending an initial appearance.
Additional charges are pending, and this case is still under investigation.
On November 29, 2025, at approximately 4:25pm, Oelwein Officers charged Wade Mathew Yearous, 43, of Oelwein, with Assault – Simple Misdemeanor. Subsequently, Nicole Marie Pingree, 41, Katherine Marie Lewis, 27, and Sukhivder Kumar, 34, all of Oelwein, were charged with Disorderly Conduct – Simple Misdemeanor. All parties were cited and released following a report of a possible fight in a business in the 700 block of South Frederick.
On November 27, 2025 at 1:35 a.m., Oelwein Officers were dispatched to the 400 block of 8th Avenue SE, in response to an abandoned 911 call. Upon arrival, officers did hear signs of distress from inside the residence and made entry. The suspect, Jacob James Victor Miller, aged 27, of Oelwein was present at the residence and was arrested and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault 2nd Offense, Aggravated Misdemeanor; two counts of Assault on Persons of a Certain Occupation, Aggravated Misdemeanor; Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) 1st Offense, Serious Misdemeanor; and two counts of Interference With Official Acts, Simple Misdemeanor.
At 4:46pm on November 23, 2025, Oelwein Police arrested Christopher Dale Fox, 45, of Oelwein. Fox was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Injury - Serious Misdemeanor. This arrest was made following reports of a domestic disturbance in the 10 block of S Frederick Ave.
At 9:36am on November 22, 2025, Oelwein Police responded to a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of W Charles St and 6th Ave SW. A silver 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by Joann Cacciottolo struck the side of a red 2018 Chevrolet Cruze driven by Jason Gruenberg. Initial estimates of damages were $500 to the vehicle driven by Cacciottolo and $2,000 to the vehicle driven by Gruenberg. Cacciottolo was assigned fault for the accident and was issued citations for Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability and Failure to Obey Stop Sign and Yield Right of Way.
At 7:57pm on November 22,2025, Oelwein Police arrested Abbegail Jean Kimball, 19, of Oelwein. Kimball was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance - Serious Misdemeanor and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Simple Misdemeanor. This arrest was made following a traffic stop in the 100 block of E Charles St.
