OELWEIN PUBLIC SAFETY CITY

OF OELWEIN, IOWA

Media Release DATE:

July 28, 2025

Release: Sunday Afternoon House Fire

At approximately 12:49 p.m. on July 27, 2025, Oelwein Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to a report of a house fire in the 300 blk 7th Ave SW. The caller reported the house was fully engulfed in flames at that time. The Oelwein Fire Department arrived on scene at 12:57 p.m. to observe the attached garage almost completely destroyed by fire and that the fire had spread to the interior of the residence.

Fire crews were on scene for nearly two hours. A family cat was rescued from inside the residence. The fire was determined

to be from a riding lawn mower that had been used and put away shortly before the fire was discovered.

"Once again our volunteer members and our great neighbors to the south and southwest worked tirelessly together to

prevent further loss to the neighborhood." stated Public Safety Chief Jeremy Logan. “Battling a house fire is never easy—but doing it in relentless heat and humidity takes extraordinary grit. Our volunteer firefighters stepped up without hesitation, pushing through brutal conditions to protect lives and property. Their selflessness and toughness remind us why they are the heart of this community.”

The Oelwein Police and Fire Departments were assisted by the fire departments from Hazleton and Fairbank, as well as the Iowa State Patrol, Fayette County Emergency Management, and Oelwein MercyOne Ambulance.

On July 26, 2025, at approximately 3:30pm, Oelwein Officers arrested Sarah Jayne Moore, 35, of Oelwein. Moore was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Simple Misdemeanor and Possession of a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine – Serious Misdemeanor. This arrest took place in the 900 block of 1st St NW.

At 5:16pm on July 24, 2025, Oelwein Police investigated a motor vehicle accident in the Fareway parking lot.  A 2011 Kia Sorento driven by Benjamin Bergman had backed into a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado driven by John Farmer.  Initial estimates of damages were $1,500 to the vehicle driven by Bergman and $5,000 to the vehicle driven by Farmer.  Bergman was assigned fault for the accident.

On July 23, 2025, at approximately 1:25am, Oelwein Officers arrested Desiree Anne Toffefson, 30, of Decorah and Zoe Terese Thibadeau, 29, of West Union. Toffefson was arrested on a Winneshiek County Warrant. Thibadeau was arrested on a State of Iowa Warrant and a Winneshiek County Warrant. These arrests took place in the 100 block of 5th Ave SE after a complaint of suspicious activity in the area.

At 4:51pm on July 21, 2025, Oelwein Police arrested Joshua Allen Rohrick, 31, of Oelwein.  Rohrick was charged with Disorderly Conduct - Simple Misdemeanor, and Interference with Official Acts - Simple Misdemeanor.  This arrest was made following reports of fighting in the 500 block of 1st St NW.

At 11:03pm on July 21, 2025, Oelwein Police arrested Tonya Mary Pennington, 49, of Oelwein.  Pennington was arrested on two Fayette County warrants for original charges of Unauthorized Use of Credit Card - Aggravated Misdemeanor, and 5th Degree Theft - Simple Misdemeanor.  This arrest was made in the 100 block of S Frederick Ave.

At 2:21pm on July 19, 2025, Oelwein Police charged Douglas Alan Burkey, 67, of Oelwein, with Violation of a No Contact Order - Simple Misdemeanor.  Burkey was issued a court summons for the offense following an investigation into a reported violation in the 1100 block of 1st St NE.

At 3:32pm on July 19, 2025, Oelwein Police charged Dizney Marie Willenborg, 25, of Oelwein, with Driving While License Suspended.  Willenborg was issued a citation and court summons for the offense following a traffic stop in the 10 block of 5th St NW.

At 5:12pm on July 19, 2025, Oelwein Police arrested Chase Edward Allen Telsrow, 42, of Decorah.  Telsrow was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd or Subsequent Offense - Class D Felony and Providing False Identification Information - Simple Misdemeanor.  This arrest was made in the 10 block of W Charles St, after initial contact was made with Telsrow for multiple warrants out of Winneshiek County.

On July 18, 2025, at approximately 5:45pm, Oelwein Officers conducted a traffic stop in the 700 block of 1st Ave NE. As a result of the traffic stop, James Stanford Adams Jr. was cited and released for Driving While License Suspended. Adams was also cited for Speed and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability.

At 3:00pm on July 16, 2025, Oelwein Police arrested two people following a traffic stop in the 100 block of 2nd Ave NW.

Nycholas Dakota-John Thompson, 18, of Oelwein, was charged with Controlled Substance Violation - Class D Felony, Failure to Affix Drug Tax Stamp - Class D Felony, three counts of 3rd Degree Burglary from a Motor Vehicle - Aggravated Misdemeanor, Child Endangerment - Aggravated Misdemeanor, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Simple Misdemeanor, Driving While License Under Suspension, and Driving While License Suspended.

Emma Rose Butters, 19, of Oelwein, was charged with Controlled Substance Violation - Class D Felony, Failure to Affix Drug Tax Stamp - Class D Felony, three counts of 3rd Degree Burglary from a Motor Vehicle - Aggravated Misdemeanor, Child Endangerment - Aggravated Misdemeanor, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Simple Misdemeanor.

At 5:04pm on July 16, 2025, Oelwein Police arrested Matthew Timothy Burnell, 48, of Hawkeye.  Burnell was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault 3rd or Subsequent Offense - Class D Felony, and Public Intoxication - Simple Misdemeanor.  This arrest was made following reports of a domestic disturbance near the intersection of 2nd St SW and 6th Ave SW.

At 5:15pm on July 16, 2025, Oelwein Police arrested Jennifer Lynn Hermann, 43, of Hawkeye.  Hermann was charged with Operating While Intoxicated 1st Offense - Serious Misdemeanor.  This arrest was made after a traffic stop in the 500 block of 2nd St SW.

At 11:20am on July 15, 2025, Oelwein Police investigated a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of 1st Ave NE and 1st St NE.  A silver 2014 Buick Enclave driven by Christina Hillman, of Oelwein, collided with a white 2016 Chevrolet Impala driven by a 16-year-old female juvenile.  Initial estimates of damages were $1,000 to the vehicle driven by Hillman and $2,500 to the vehicle driven by the juvenile.  Hillman was assigned fault for the accident, and was issued a citation for Failure to Obey Stop Sign and Yield Right of Way.

On July 14, 2025, at approximately 1:45pm, Oelwein Officers arrested Douglas Alan Burkey, 67, of Oelwein. Burkey was charged with Assault Causing Bodily Injury or Mental Illness – Serious Misdemeanor. This arrest took place in the 1100 block of 1st St NE after a report of a physical altercation taking place.