Arrest made in Morningside Murder

UPDATE - The name of the victim of the murder that occurred on April 14 at 3811 Peters Ave Apt. #5 is 55-year-old Lisa Belk of Sioux City.

We wish to express our deepest sympathies to her family for their loss.

The other victim was a 28-year-old female who was treated and released for injuries she sustained. She is the daughter of the Lisa Belk. Her name is not being released at this time out of respect for her privacy.

Paul Belk, who has been charged for this matter, is the son of Lisa Belk and a brother to the other adult victim.

This incident stemmed from some sort of disturbance between the involved parties. Detectives are still investigating the exact details as this is an on-going investigation.

ORIGINAL RELEASE - On 4/14/20 at 18:11 hours, Sioux City Police Department Officers were dispatched to 3811 Peters Ave #5 for a disturbance.  Upon arrival, officers located two victims with stab wounds.  Both of these parties were transported to MercyOne Medical Center.  One of the victims received serious injuries, and one of the victims died as a result of the wounds. 

The arrested party is, Paul Belk from Beaufort, South Carolina. 30 years old

He has been charged with 1st Degree Murder and Willful Injury Class D.

No further information is being released at this time pending notification of family.

Phishing Scams -- How to Identify and Avoid Becoming a Victim of Pop-Up Scams

*Pop-up warning scams*

Pop-ups occur when you’re browsing the internet and sees a small graphic or ad appear on their screen. Pop-ups are usually related to the content being viewed and link to another website with similar content or merchandise.

Malicious pop-ups can be terribly intrusive, making it difficult for the user to close the pop-up window. These pop-ups may display a message stating that the computer is infected with malware and offer a phone number for help with removing the malware. Cybercriminals often make pop-ups look like they come from a trusted source, such Norton, or other anti-virus products to appear legitimate.

Protect yourself against pop-up scams:

• Examine the message closely. Look for obvious signs of fraud such as poor spelling and bad grammar.

• When in doubt, never click on a pop-up. Instead, open your antivirus software and run a system scan.

• Pop-ups from legitimate anti-virus sources will only appear within the interface of the security software you’ve purchased. Customer support from your anti-virus software will not send users unsolicited pop-ups stating that they will fix a user’s computer if given remote access.

Phishing Scams -- How to Identify and Avoid Becoming a Victim of Tech Support Scam Calls

We rely on our computers and electronic devices for our professional and personal day to day activity. These devices need to run fast and efficient, so what should you do when someone calls claiming your device has been compromised by a virus or malware?

*Tech support call scams*

Tech support cold calls are when a scammer calls a potential victim claiming to be from a reputable security company. They lie and say they found malware on the victim’s computer.

The criminal pretends to offer a solution by getting the user to install a type of remote desktop software. This allows the scammer access to the computer to install real malware. In addition to attempting to install malware on the machine, these scammers will often ask for a fee to “fix” the issue.

How to help protect yourself against tech support call scams:

• If a person calls claiming to work for a specific, well-known company, look up the phone number online before you take any further action.

• Never allow remote access to your computer or devices.

Phishing Scams -- How to Identify and Avoid Becoming a Victim of Vishing

As promised, here is another type of phishing scam known as “Vishing.” Equip yourself with the knowledge and power to protect you and your loved ones from scammers. As we’ve mentioned before, with continued advances and reliance on technology, scammers have several ways they attempt to gain access to our personal information, and here’s another:

*Vishing scams*

Vishing (voice or VoIP phishing) is the voice version of email phishing. “V” stands for voice, but otherwise, the scam attempt is the same. It is a phone scam in which individuals are tricked or scared into handing over valuable financial or personal information to scammers.

How to help protect yourself against vishing scams:

• Never give personal information over the phone. Hang up, look for the number of the company on their official website, and call them directly to confirm legitimacy. 

• Don’t return a call to the original number. When looking up the company website, make sure it is legitimate. Fake websites often contain misspellings and poor grammar.

Phishing Scams -- How to Identify and Avoid Becoming a Victim of Email Phishing

As the public is continually updated and inundated with information about the coronavirus, scammers have been upping their game to take advantage of folks during this vulnerable time. With continued advances and reliance on technology, scammers have several ways they attempt to gain access to our personal information.

*Email Phishing Scams*

An email phishing scam is a fraudulent email message that appears to be from a person or company known to the victim. It attempts to illegally gather personal and/or financial information from the recipient, which is the goal of most scams.

A phishing message typically includes at least one link to a fake website, designed to mimic the site of a legitimate business. The message entices the recipient to provide information that could be used for identity theft or online financial theft.

How to help PROTECT YOURSELF against email phishing scams:

• Do not click any links or download any attachments. Instead, open your web browser and go to the website in question to verify the legitimacy of the email/company.

• Be vigilant. Pay attention. Phishers have been known to use real company logos to make their communications seem legitimate. They also use spoofed email addresses, which are like the actual company’s address. However, the address may be misspelled slightly or come from a spoofed domain.

Police and Fire Headquarters lobby closed

Amid concerns regarding COVID-19, the City of Sioux City is taking every possible precaution to protect the health and safety of its employees and residents while continuing to deliver high quality service.

As part of this effort, the lobby of the Police & Fire Headquarters has been closed to visitors.

If you require Immediate emergency assistance, please call 911.

If you wish to make a report with an officer, call 712-279-6960 and an officer will be sent to your location or contact you.

If you wish to obtain a copy of a police report or need a tow release, call 712-279-6440.

If you are requesting the return of property, call 712-279-6977.

If you wish to speak to the Fire Department, call 712-279-6314.

If you do not have a phone, there is a video doorbell in the middle of the station doors that will be answered.

Until further notice, the department is not taking fingerprints.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your cooperation.

The Sioux City Police Department and Woodbury County Emergency Managementcongratulate CERT graduates.

Sioux City Police Chief, Rex Mueller, and Woodbury County Emergency Management Coordinator, Rebecca Socknat are proud to announce the graduation of 9 CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) participants.  Certificates were awarded to the graduates on February 18, 2020, at The Security Institute located on the campus of Western Iowa Tech Community College. 

This is the seventeenthyear that Homeland Security funding has been used to offer CERT training to the Volunteers In Police Service and Citizen Academy graduates and more than 320 participants have received CERT training over the 17 years. The Sioux City Police Department is grateful for this partnership and opportunity to offer this annual training.      

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, using a model created by the Los Angeles City Fire Department, began promoting nationwide the use of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept in 1994.  CERT training promotes a partnering effort between emergency services and the people that they serve.  The goal is for emergency personnel to train members of neighborhoods, community organizations, or workplaces in basic response skills.  If a disastrous event overwhelms or delays the community’s professional response, CERT members can assist by helping their families and neighbors until emergency help arrives at the scene.  CERT skills also apply to daily emergencies that may occur, and have been used to help save lives of some of our local citizens in the past.  

The CERT training consisted of classes that covered the following topics: Emergency Management, DisasterPreparedness & Homeland Security; Communications Center and 911; Severe Weather Training; Fire Suppression; General First Aid; Heat Related Injuries &Infectious Diseases; and Adult, Child & Infant CPR.

Congratulations to the Sioux City Police Department 

2020 CERT graduates who are as follows: Deb Andriessen, Jack Desrosiers, Mike Gill, Brad Grier, Jeanie Husted, Sandra Lopez, Sheila Schumann, Amy Towner, and Jimmy Towner

SCPD works to keep vapes from kids

Vapor devices or “vapes” come in various designs. Their popularity with kids has grown significantly over the years.

The Sioux City Police Department has seen a trend of increased nicotine alternative and vapor or “vapes” products among teens. Vapor products or “vapes” are electronic devices used to heat a liquid to an aerosol or vapor which is inhaled by the user.

Iowa law prohibits persons under the age of 18 from purchasing or possessing not only tobacco products but also nicotine alternatives and vapor products.

Between Jan. 1 and Dec. 1 of this year, 126 citations have been issued to teens for possessing tobacco, nicotine alternative, or vapor products. Of those citations, 104 have been for possessing vapor products used for vaping. Fines for underage possession of these products start at $50 for a first offense and increase up to $150 for subsequent offenses.

As part of an effort to keep these products from teens, the SCPD is participating in the Iowa Alcohol Beverage Division’s (ABD) I-PLEDGE initiative. The ABD created the initiative as an effort to get 100% compliance with Iowa’s laws on selling these products by retailers. ABD offers free training to retailers and their employees on preventing sells of tobacco, nicotine alternatives, and vapor products to minors.

In addition to the training, the SCPD is also in process of checking compliance with Iowa laws by retailers. Officers with the Special Investigations Unit will be sending people under 18 into stores to attempted to purchase these products. The teens are instructed to show their ID if requested and steps are taken to make no effort to mislead sales clerks. Should a clerk sell to a minor, they will be issued a citation fining them $100.

The goal of the checks is to obtain 100% compliance by retailers. The ABD reports that statewide, there is a 91% compliance rate.

Parents can also help in this effort by not allowing teens to purchase or possess vapor products or the pods and vape juices associated with them. We also encourage them to discuss the health risks associated with using these products to include addiction to nicotine.

Retailers interested in completing i-PLEDGE Retailer Certification can do so at the following link https://ipocp.iowaabd.com/portal.

Information to inform parent and help them talk to their kids about vaping can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/index.htm.

“Vape Juice” are liquids added to vapor devices and usually contain nicotine. They are flavored which research suggests helps attract kids to these products.

Vapor devices or “vapes” come in various styles. They all have to be charged and have a liquid added to them.

Vapor devices or “vapes” may look like a thumb drive to some people not familiar with.

Vapor devices or “vapes” may look like a thumb drive to some people not familiar with.

Vapor devices or “vapes” may look like a thumb drive to some people not familiar with.

Some vapor devices can be charge via USB ports.

Seeking information in the murder of Chad Thomas

We are asking the public for any information that they may have in the murder investigation of 42-year-old Chad A. Thomas of Sioux City.

On Dec. 14 shortly after 10:04 pm, Thomas was found suffering from gunshot wounds in the area of 17th and Ingleside. He was transported to MercyOne were he succumbed to his wounds.

If you have any information on this, please call Det. Nate West at 279-6365 or Crime Stoppers at 258-TIPS (8477).

Chad Thomas

Arrest Made in Robbery

On 12/13/19 at 11:39 AM, the Sioux City Police Department received a call of a robbery in the 1500 block of Virginia St.  The victim reported a male party acted as if he had a firearm and demanded his vehicle.  The suspect then left in the vehicle.  A short time later the vehicle was involved in an accident at 25th and Clark Street and the suspect fled the scene.

At 8:35 PM, the suspect returned to a relative’s house at 1519 Virginia St.  After a brief standoff with officers, the suspect surrendered peacefully. The Sioux City Police Department uses all resources necessary to resolve these issues in the safest manner possible.

The arrested party is,

Juanito Gonzales, 24, of Sioux City

He has been charged with Robbery 2nd degree.

Possibly impaired driver causes accident in interstate after traveling the wrong way

At approximately 6:30 am on Dec. 7 a Chevy pickup was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes on Interstate 29. The pickup truck struck a SUV nearly head-on between the 148 and 147B exits.

A Sioux City woman in the SUV sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Mercy One.

The pickup continued on in the wrong direction to the area of the railroad bridge where it was spotted by a SCPD officer on his way home from the night shift. The officer observed the vehicle run into the concrete barrier repeatedly before going back northbound on the interstate with no lights. The officer relayed this information to officers approaching the area until losing sight of the pickup truck.

A WCSO Deputy spotted the vehicle getting on the Gordon Viaduct eastbound after Woodbury Communications received a call from a citizen following the vehicle off the interstate. The pickup truck failed to stop for the deputy, at which time a SCPD officer forced the vehicle to a stop. Both the Gordon Viaduct eastbound and I-29 northbound were completely closed for a short time while the scenes were processed and injured tended to.

The pickup truck driver, 32 year old Nickolas Diediker of Concord, NE, was charged with OWI, felony eluding, leaving the scene of an injury accident, no proof of insurance, reckless driving, no headlights, and driving the wrong way on a divided highway.

Agencies involved in the incident were the Sioux City Police Department, Sioux City Fire / Rescue, Woodbury County Sheriff's Office, Iowa DNR, Iowa State Patrol, and Sergeant Bluff Police Department.

Arrests and charges noted in this matter are considered merely an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Arrest made in downtown parking lot robbery

On Dec. 5 at about 9:44 pm, the Sioux City Police Department received a report of a robbery in the Hard Rock Casino parking lot at 111 3rd St.

The victim reported to officers that a male approached his vehicle, displayed a firearm, and demanded the vehicle and money. The suspect fled the area after taking an undisclosed amount of cash from the victim.

A short time later, officer located the suspect a short distance away and took him onto custody.

Charged with 1st degree robbery was 26-year-old Robert W. Anderson of San Antonio, Texas.

We would like to thank the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for their assistance in this matter. Their contribution and dedicated to the security of their guests helped with the quick apprehension of the Anderson.

Plymouth County pursuit of stolen car ends in Sioux City

On Dec. 5 at about 11:01 am, the Sioux City Police Department was notified that a deputy with the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office was in pursuit of a stolen vehicle and was heading towards Sioux City on Highway K12.

The fleeing car entered Sioux City at speeds of over 100 miles per hour. Officer with the department responded to the area and attempted to deploy tire deflation devices. Due to these efforts, the driver of the fleeing vehicle stopped the car and surrendered in the 3300 block of Military Rd.

Officers and deputies took 25-year-old Megan M. McMillim of North Sioux City, South Dakota into custody. She was transported to Plymouth County to be investigated for Operating While Intoxicated and charged there for the pursuit.

There was a 29-year-old passenger in the vehicle that was questioned and released without charges.

The car used in the pursuit was a 2011 Hyundai Sonata that was stolen on Nov. 23 from Sioux City's east side.