On June 12, 2025, at approximately 6:30pm, Oelwein Officers arrested Toyna Mary Pennington, 49, of Oelwein. Pennington was arrested on a Fayette County Warrant for Theft – 5th Degree. This arrest took place in the 100 block of South Frederick.
On June 11, 2025, at approximately 11:03pm, Oelwein Officers took a report of a disturbance in the 10 block of 6th Street NW. As a result of the investigation Trisha Ann Hanks, 39, of Oelwein, was arrested. Hanks was charged with Interference with Official acts – Simple Misdemeanor and Domestic Abuse Assault – 1st Offense – Simple Misdemeanor.
At 8:16pm on June 8, 2025, Oelwein Police arrested Regina Rena Larsen, 52, of Oelwein, following a traffic stop in the 300 block of 6th Ave SE. Larsen was charged with Driving While Barred - Aggravated Misdemeanor. Larsen was also issued a citation for Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability.
On June 2, 2025, at approximately 11:52am, Oelwein Officers arrested Dean Adelbert Stone II, 48, of Oelwein. Stone was charged with Driving While Barred – Aggravated Misdemeanor. This is a result of a traffic stop in the 100 block of 3rd Avenue SE.
On June 6, 2025, at approximately 5:49pm, Oelwein Officers arrested Misty June Marie Cook, 47, of Oelwein. Cook was arrested on a Fayette County warrant for Violation of Probation. Cook was taken into custody in the 500 block of Rock Island Rd.
At approximately 8:59pm, Officers arrested Mellony Jean Harris, 36, of Oelwein. Harris was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance – 3rd or Subsequent Offense – Methamphetamine – Class D Felony and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Simple Misdemeanor. Harris was taken into custody in the 900 block of 1st Avenue SW.
At 12:32pm on June 4, 2025, Oelwein Police arrested Brandon Leslie Hoover, 20, of Oelwein. Hoover was charged with 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief - Class D Felony. This arrest was made in the 400 block of N Frederick Ave, following a police investigation into reported vandalism of the W Charles St viaduct and surrounding area. The matter is still being looked into, with additional charges and warrants for arrest to be requested.
At 1:16pm on June 4, 2025, Oelwein Police arrested James Alfred Cornwell, 42, of Arlington. Cornwell was arrested on a Fayette County warrant for Failure to Appear on original charges of two counts Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd or Subsequent Offense - Class D Felony, and one count Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Simple Misdemeanor. This arrest was made at the Oelwein Probation Office.
OELWEIN PUBLIC SAFETY
CITY OF OELWEIN, IOWA
Media Release DATE:
June 4, 2025
Release: Tuesday Evening Search Warrant Executed - Arrests Made
At approximately 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025, the Oelwein Police Department, with the
assistance of the Iowa State Patrol, executed a search warrant in the 300 block of 6th Avenue SE in
Oelwein. During the course of the search warrant, illegal controlled substances were located and
seized. The following subjects have been arrested and charged:
1) Misty June Marie Cook, 47 of Oelwein
Conspire with Intent to Manufacture or Deliver Methamphetamine - Class C Felony
Conspire with Intent to Manufacture or Deliver 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 these cases are still under investigation.
As a part of this investigation, the following persons have also been charged and arrests warrants
have been requested:
1) Zackery Michael Frazer, 31 of Oelwein:
Conspire with Intent to Manufacture or Deliver Methamphetamine - Class C Felony
Conspire with Intent to Manufacture or Deliver Marijuana - Class D Felony
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Simple Misdemeanor
2) Regina Rena Larsen, 52 of Oelwein:
Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Offense- Methamphetamine – Serious Misdemeanor
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Simple Misdemeanor
OELWEIN PUBLIC SAFETY
CITY OF OELWEIN, IOWA
Media Release DATE:
June 3, 2025
Release: Arrest Made in Connection to Early Morning House Fires
At approximately 2:04 a.m. on June 3, 2025, Oelwein Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to a report of a house fire in the 300 blk 1st Ave NE. The caller reported the house was fully engulfed in flames at that time. Officers arrived and immediately began notifying neighboring residents to evacuate as the fire was spreading to nearby homes. The Oelwein Fire Department arrived on scene at 2:16 a.m. to observe one house almost completely destroyed by fire. Additionally, a house to the south was engulfed in flames and a house to the west was also engulfed in flames.
Fire crews were on scene for nearly five hours and throughout the day. The fire was determined to be suspicious in nature. Officers continued the investigation throughout the day and an arrest has been made in connection to the fires. The following person has been arrested and charged:
1) Jeannie Marie Murphy, 50 of Oelwein
Arson 1st Degree - Class B Felony
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.
"We are extremely grateful and proud of the collaborative efforts of all of the volunteer members of each fire department involved to protect the lives and property of those in our community and the efficient investigative work of our officers," stated Public Safety Chief Jeremy Logan. "People that volunteer for a fire department are special people that are the heartbeat of those communities and we are fortunate to have them and the dedicated officers that serve us."
The Oelwein Police and Fire Departments were assisted by the fire departments from Hazleton, Maynard, and Fairbank, as well as the Fayette County Sheriff's Office, Fayette County Emergency Management, Oelwein MercyOne Ambulance, and the American Red Cross.
At approximately 5:27pm on June 1, 2025, Oelwein Police charged Kalie Gabrielle Smith, 27, of Oelwein with Driving While License Suspended. Smith was issued a summons to court for the infraction following a traffic stop in the 200 block of 2nd Ave NW.
At 5:50pm on May 29, 2025, Oelwein Police responded to a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Rock Island Rd and 14th St SE. A red 2005 Chevrolet Impala driven by Zoe Neal collided with a red 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a 15-year-old female juvenile. Initial estimates of damages were $5,000 to the vehicle driven by Neal and $12,000 to the vehicle driven by the juvenile. Neal was assigned fault for the accident and issued a citation for Failure to Yield Upon Left Turn. The Oelwein Police were assisted by the Oelwein Fire Department and Mercy Oelwein Ambulance.
On May 27, 2025, at approximately 2:00pm, Oelwein officers investigated a report of a theft in the 1300 block of Industrial Park Road. As a result of the investigation, Leslie Ann Thornton, 53, of Oelwein was issued a summons into court for Theft – 5th Degree – Simple Misdemeanor.