OELWEIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
CITY OF OELWEIN, IOWA
Media Release
DATE: September 7, 2018
Release: Wanted Person
On September 7, 2018, at approximately 8:45 a.m., the Oelwein Police Department received a report of a suspicious male in the 1000 block of West Charles. While officers were in route, the department received a report the male was now involved in a domestic disturbance, in the street, with a female subject. An officer located the disturbance in the 800 block of 1st Street SW. As the officer met with the subjects, it was discovered that the male subject was concealing a firearm on his person. The subject reached for the firearm and after a short altercation, he fled on foot. The subject ran to his residence in the 1000 block of West Charles and entered a vehicle as other units arrived to assist. The subject then attempted to elude police and a vehicle pursuit was initiated. The pursuit took a path of various roadways, in the southwest quadrant of the community, with the suspect operating at speeds in excess of 60 and 80 mph in the residential neighborhoods.
The suspect then intentionally drove his vehicle down a steep creek embankment which disable the vehicle. He then fled again on foot. Various witnesses provided officers with a direction that the subject fled towards and a perimeter was established. At this time the Iowa State Patrol, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa State Patrol Air Unit arrived to assist. The incident of the last foot pursuit occurred within a few blocks of Sacred Heart School and that building was placed on lock-out as a precautionary measure.
As the investigation progressed, the department received information that the individual was potentially working his way to a location at or near the Oelwein High School-Middle School-Little Husky Learning Center. School officials were contacted, as a precaution, and were requested to go into a lock-out as officers continued to search the area for the suspect. The schools remained in lock-out until the end of the school day and officers provided extra presence at these locations during dismissal for the day.
The suspect remains at large at this time. Arrests warrants have been issued for Emilio Austin Torres, 28, of Oelwein. Torres is being charged with: Photo Retrieved From Facebook
1) Domestic Assault – Simple Misdemeanor
2) Weapons Violation – Aggravated Misdemeanor
3) Interference with Official Acts while in possession of a firearm – Class D Felony
4) Eluding Law Enforcement – Class D Felony and
5) Various traffic violations
Other charges are pending against other individuals in this matter.
The Oelwein Police Department was assisted by the Iowa State Patrol and the Buchanan County
Sheriff’s Department.

On September 5^th, 2018 at 11:19a.m., Officers took a report of a Theft at the corner of 13^th AV NW and W Charles. A report was taken and this incident remains under investigation.

On September 4^th, 2018 at 11:27a.m., Officers took a report of a Theft in the 400 block of 2^nd AV NE.  A report was taken and this incident remains under investigation.

On September 3, 2018 at 3:40 p.m., Oelwein Officers performed a traffic stop in the 700 block of 7th Avenue SE.  Officers arrested David Michael Hurst, age 48 of Oelwein on a charge of Driving While License Suspended, a Simple Misdemeanor.

On September 2, 2018 at 8:25 p.m., Oelwein Officers performed a traffic stop near the intersection of East Charles and Outer Road.  Officers cited and released Barbara Rose Bitterlie, age 52 of Cedar Falls for Driving While License Suspended.

On August 31st 2018 at 11:01p.m., Officers took a report of a Theft in the 100 block of 2^nd ST NE.  A report was taken and this incident remains under investigation.

On August 30^th 2018 at 4:12 p.m., Officers took a report of a Theft in the 300 block of 4^th AV SE.  A report was taken and this incident remains under investigation.

At 8:47 p.m., on August 30^th, 2018 Oelwein Police arrested Jeffrey Paul Spragg, 65, of Oelwein.  Spragg was arrested on a Virginia warrant on original charges of Felony Aggravated Sexual Battery Victim less than 13 YO.  This arrest took place in the 800 block of South Frederick.

On August 27, 2018 at 3:30 p.m., Oelwein Police were called to a disturbance in the 100 block of West Charles.  Officers subsequently arrested Barbara Ann Griffiths, age 38 of Oelwein For Possession of Controlled Substance, a Serious Misdemeanor.

Oelwein Officers arrested Rick Alan Butterfield, age 47, of Independence on two counts of Theft in the 5th Degree, both Simple Misdemeanors.  The arrest stemmed from an incident on August 27, 2018 at 7:55 p.m. in the 100 block of 2nd Street SE.

On August 25^nd 2018 at 11:31 a.m., Officers took a report of a Theft in the 10 block of 5^th AV SE.  A report was taken and this incident remains under investigation.

The Oelwein Police Department took a report of a one vehicle, personal injury accident in the 1300 block of 2^nd ST SE.  On August 22, 2018 at 07:19 a.m., a vehicle was reported to have struck an individual at that location.  Officers cited Robbie Nathaniel McKeeman, age 19 of Oelwein for Failure to Yield to a Pedestrian.

On August 22^nd 2018 at 12:15 p.m., Officers took a report of a Theft in the 100 block of 1^st AV NW.  A report was taken and this incident remains under investigation

On August 22^nd 2018 at 12:15 p.m., Officers took a report of a Criminal Mischief in the 100 block of 2^nd AV NW.  A report was taken and this incident remains under investigation.