Winter Weather Driving Tips

We’ve enjoyed some mild and calm conditions recently, however area meteorologists are forecasting for that to change rapidly around noon today. With inclement weather on its way, here are ten tips to keep in mind while winter driving:

1. Avoid it

2. Allow for extra time to travel from one place to another

3. Slow down

4. Keep at least three car lengths between you and vehicles ahead of you

5. Drive with your lights on, even during daylight hours

6. Avoid using cruise control

7. Don’t pass snow plows

8. Know the limits of your vehicle

9. Do not accelerate or brake aggressively

(firm pressure on your brake pedal is best, don’t stomp on it)

10. Completely defrost and clear all windows to maximize your visibility

Please pay attention to local forecasts for the most up-to-date weather and road conditions, and review our tips on Winter Emergency Car Kits to give yourself the ultimate advantage for safe travel this winter season.

The Sioux City Police Department Welcomes its Newest Officers

The Sioux City Police Department is happy to welcome our newest officers to the team. Thad Boyer and Colin Scherle were sworn in this morning. Please congratulate these gentlemen as they begin their journey to serve the community through careers in Law Enforcement.

Five arrested last week for firearms charges

The Sioux City Police Department arrested four people last week in three separate incidents for illegal possession of firearms.

On Nov. 15 at 2:11 am, an officer stopped 21-year-old Salvador Carrasco-Chaidez of Sioux City for driving erratically. He was investigated for operating while intoxicated.

During the investigation, officers located a handgun in his car and cocaine. He was charged with Carrying Concealed Weapon, Possession of a Control Substance, OWI, and numerous traffic charges. An investigation is being conducted into the firearm to see if it is a stolen firearm.

Also, on Nov. 15 at 3:56 pm, officers were continuing their investigation into a robbery that had been reported the day before at 2201 Gibson St when they encountered some subjects of interest in a car. During their contact with the subjects, two handguns were located.

Officers arrested 19-year-old Kelece A. Taylor of Sioux City for Carrying a Concealed Weapon. A 17-year-old was also charged with Carrying a Concealed Weapon and taken to Juvenile Detention. The juvenile’s name is not being released at this time the investigation into the robbery is ongoing.

On Nov. 16 at 5:00 am, officers responded to a disturbance in the 1300 block of Main St. Based on their investigation, 30-year-old Cordaro D. Whitshel was arrested for Domestic Assault.

While searching Whitsel, he was found to be in possession of a handgun and body armor. He was charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Controlled Substance in addition to the Domestic Assault Charge.

Accompanying Whitsel was 29-year-old Jacob J. Peters of Sioux City who was found to have an active warrant for his arrest. When he was taken into custody, he was found to be in possession of a handgun. He was booked into Woodbury County Jail on the warrant and also charged with Carrying a Concealed Weapon.

The Sioux City Police Department is committed to thoroughly investigating gun crimes and seeking the maxim penalties for anyone illegally possessing firearms and who use them in the commission of crimes.

We also ask all gun owners to keep their firearms secure in safes, maintain lists of serial numbers, and report any stolen firearms immediately to law enforcement.

The public is encouraged to provide officers any information they have on anyone who illegally possesses firearms for used them in various crimes. They can make a report to an officer by calling 279-6960 or Crimestoppers at 258-TIPS (8477).  

Increase in stolen cars, many with keys left them

There has been an increase in stolen cars reported as the weather gets colder. Between Oct. 1 and Nov. 12, there were 41 cars reported stolen. Of those, 22 were left running or the keys were left in them.

Most of the reported stolen cars were left running to warm up when they were taken. A few were left running as the owner ran into a business for a quick errand. These incidents are occurring all over town.

The department is strongly urging people to not leave their keys in their cars or leave them running and unsecured.

Luckily for most of the victims, their cars are recovered a short time later. Of the 41 cars stolen in this six-week period, 36 have been recovered.

People taking cars that are left running could be charged with Theft 2nd or Operating without Owner’s Consent.

$3300 raised with Pink Patch Project

A check for $3,300 was presented to the Caps 4 Courage project on Wednesday Nov.13 at the police station by the chief and officers who helped organize the selling of pink patches during the month of October.

The program was well received, and people really loved the look of the pink badge and patches,” said Sgt. Judy Kellen who helped organize the fund raiser.

The money raised will help pay for gift bags to be presented to new patients receiving chemotherapy at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center in Sioux City.

“A unisex hat with an inspirational word, a painted rock, and a letter of support from a fellow survivor will be included in the bag,” said Patty Cosidine who started Caps 4 Courage and is also a cancer survivor. “Not everyone has the same support I had during my treatments and I wanted others to feel supported.”

The department sold over 350 pink versions of its patch to raise the money. Female officers of the department also were able to purchase a pink version of the badge and wear it on duty along with the patches.

“They have been great conversation pieces and a lot of people reached out to us to support the project,” added Kellen.

The money raised will pay for most of the 1,000 bags that Caps 4 Courage want to make.

For more information on Caps 4 Courage, go to their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Foundation4Courage.

Members of the Sioux City Police Department present Patty Cosidine, founder of Caps 4 Courage, with check for $3,300 at the police station on Nov. 13. The money was raised by selling pink versions of the department patch during the month of October. Picture from left to right is Officer Val Rose, Sgt. Judy Kellen, Patty Considine, Officer Heather Albrecht, and Lead Records Tech. Lisa Cote.

Winter Emergency Car Kit

Mother nature has already provided us with a reminder that cold weather and slick roadways will soon be the norm for the next several months. Now is a great time to consider weather or not you’re prepared to make your daily commute and upcoming holiday trips safely. It’s always a good idea to have the following items in your vehicle this time of year:

-Flashlight with extra batteries

-Charged cellphone and cellphone charger

-Basic First Aid Kit

-Blankets

-Extra clothes (mittens, boots, socks)

-Non-perishable foods

-Windshield scraper and brush

-Shovel

-Basic toolkit

-Jumper Cables

REMINDER — when travel is unavoidable in inclement weather, communicate to a loved one where you’re going and estimated time of arrival. Also, allow for extra time, as driving becomes much more challenging. We’ll have Winter Driving Tips coming soon.

Officers investing shots fired at 2300 41st St

On Nov. 1 at about 7:34 pm, the Sioux City Police Department received a report of several shots being fired at 2300 41st St.

Officers determined that a car pulled up to the residence, several subjects got out and confronted a 14-year-old juvenile at the residence. Fearing for his safety, he ran inside the residence.

Shortly after that, someone in the group fired about seven shots. Officers located three places where bullets stuck the house.

At the time of the shooting, there was one adult and three teenaged juveniles in the residence. No one was injured in the incident.

The vehicle involved is described as a black 2000’s Chevy Tahoe.

Detectives investigating the matter believe they have identified a suspect and are continuing to investigate the motive for the shooting.

At this time, this an ongoing investigation.

SCPD and WCSO collect 265 pounds of unused medication

The Sioux City Police Department and Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office collect 265 pounds of unused prescription medication during National Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 26 at nine locations throughout Sioux City.

“Often, people may have left over medication or medication of a loved one that recently passed that they are not sure what to do with,” Said Sgt. Jeremy McClure, Community Policing Sergeant for the department.

The unused medication was turned into the Drug Enforcement Agency for proper disposal.

National Drug Take Back Day is a bi-annual event sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Agency and provides a way for people to dispose of unused medication in an environmentally sound way. It also helps reduce opportunities for these drugs to be abused.

“It is illegal to possess someone else’s prescription and frequently we find people in possession or abusing someone else’s medication,” said McClure.

The next Drug Take Back Day is planned for some time in April. When a date is decided, it will be released to the public. People with medication that needs disposed before then can use the drop box located in the Police Department lobby.

Arrest made for stolen vehicle

On Oct. 28 at about 1:00 p.m. the Sioux City Police Department took a report of a 2003 GMC Sierra being stolen from the 400 block of Market Street. It is believed the suspect took the keys from the owner's residence without his knowledge or permission.

Later that evening, at about 12:40 a.m. officers located the vehicle in the area of 3rd and Lewis Blvd. The truck was stopped in the 2900 block of 2nd St. and the driver got out of the vehicle and ran from police. He was located a short time later after a K-9 was used to track him. He surrendered without further resistance.

Arrested was 33-year-old Kelly Coop of Sioux City. He was taken to Woodbury County Jail on charges of 2nd degree Theft, Driving While License Suspended, and Fail to Obey a Peace Officer.

Also arrest was 32-year-old Olga Vasquez of West Point Nebraska who was a passenger in the truck. She had a warrant for her arrest and was charged with Providing False Information.

Arrest made in Dale Street assault and robbery

On Oct. 26 at about 4:11 p.m., the Sioux City Police Department were dispatched to the 1500 block of Dale St. for a report of a large disturbance.

When officers arrived, they located a subject who reported that an unknown male had threatened to stab him with a screw driver and stole the victim’s car. The suspect then lost control of the car and crashed into a pole a short distance away.

The suspect then attempted to assault another person before fleeing the area on foot. Officers located the suspect a few blocks away from where the incident started.

Charged in this incident was 19-year-old Justin Pena of Sioux City. He was booked into Woodbury County Jail on charges of 1st degree robbery, aggravated assault, operating while intoxicated, no driver’s license, and failure to maintain control of a vehicle.

These are accusations and Pena is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  

Iowa DNR to hunt geese at Green Valley Golf Cource - Public Notice

On Tuesday, October 29th the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will be coordinating a depredation goose hunt on the grounds of the Green Valley Golf Course, 4300 Donner Avenue.  Shooting will begin at approximately 7:30 a.m. and will conclude by 10:30 a.m. Shotgun noise will be heard from the area, but there is no danger to the public. All ammunition discharged will remain within the property boundaries of the golf course.

This particular method of removing troublesome geese is being explored as a viable option for limiting the exposure to migratory waterfowl faced by the Sioux Gateway Airport. Resident geese in the Southern parts of Sioux City attract migrating geese in the Spring and Fall of the year. Numerous methods have been tried, in ours and other areas of the state, to modify the behavior of these waterfowl. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is taking this opportunity to engage military veterans with the intent of re-introducing them to hunting and retaining them as ethical hunters.

 Media queries should be directed to Nick Klemsrude 515-281-8653 with Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Green Valley Golf Course and surrounding areas.

Shots fired in the 2500 block of W. 6th St.

On Oct. 23 at about 5:16 pm, the Sioux City Police Department received a report of shots being fired in the 2500 block of W. 6th St.

Officers that responded to the area did not locate any victims but pistol caliber shell casings were located. It it not known at this time who the intended target was or the reason for it.

A red Cadillac CTS with Iowa plates occupied by a male was seen in the area and possibly was involved. Officers are looking for information on the car and it is driver.

This is an on-going investigation.

Anyone with information on this incident should contact the Sioux City Police Department or call Crimestoppers at 258-TIPS (8477).

SCAM ALERT - Sidewalk replacement scam

If you have been notified by the city that your concrete sidewalk needs to be replace, the City of Sioux City wants you to know that you should contact a licensed and insured concrete contractor. The city does not send contractors to your door.

Recently, some home owners are being contacted by a concrete contractor at their door. The contractor is offering to repair and install their sidewalk. This contractor states that if they do not have him replace their concrete the city will automatically replace it and then access them the cost. He claims this cost is much higher than the rate he is offering.

Do not feel pressured to hire a contractor who comes to your door. Home owners should research all contractors to ensure they are appropriately licensed and insured before hiring.