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CEDAR RAPIDS – Police are defending a decision not to issue State Senator Liz Mathis a citation following a crash last month in Cedar Rapids despite Mathis’ admission of fault. Mathis, 54, of Cedar Rapids, was northbound on Kirkwood Boulevard SW near Miller Avenue SW on April 13 when her sport-utility vehicle rear-ended an SUV [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS – The man who stopped breathing in the back of a Cedar Rapids police car last week last week has died. Paul R. Saldivar Sr., 33, of Cedar Rapids, died early Friday morning after his family decided to remove life support earlier this week, authorities said. Bill Kietzman, special agent with the Iowa Division [...]

MARION – A woman is in critical condition after a motorcycle accident early Thursday morning in Marion. Police responded around 12:30 a.m. to 10th Street near Brockman Avenue, where 34-year-old Kelsey Tegeler of Marion, was lying in the street. She was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital for serious head injuries, where she was in the [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS – Police are investigating after at least 15 mailboxes were run over early Thursday morning. Cedar Rapids police Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said a vehicle was used to run over the mailboxes in the Huntington Ridge subdivision on the northern edge of the city. Mailboxes on Sheffield Drive NE, Ashford Place NE, Dorchester Place [...]

MARION – An elderly woman has died after a head-on collision on a bridge Wednesday afternoon in Marion. Authorities said a car and a sport-utility vehicle collided around 3:30 p.m. along Alburnett Road above Indian Creek. Witnesses told police the car driver crossed the center line on the bridge for no apparent reason. The driver [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS – It’s a polite gesture, but police say it’s usually one to avoid. Iowa drivers in a line of traffic occasionally leave a gap to allow a turning vehicle to pass through. Then there’s the courteous “Go ahead” wave from the driver that stopped short. Cedar Rapids police Sgt. Michael Wallerstedt said too many [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS – About 40 people were involved in a brawl Tuesday evening in Cedar Rapids that involved baseball bats and left one girl with glass in her eye. Six young women were arrested after the fight, which erupted around 6:20 p.m. near the corner of First Avenue and Jacolyn Drive NW. Police said none [...]

Updated by Dave Franzman at 3:15 p.m.  Updates in bold. CEDAR RAPIDS – The man who stopped breathing in the back of a Cedar Rapids police squad car last week will be pulled off life support, according to his cousin. Paul R. Saldivar Sr., 33, of Cedar Rapids, was arrested last Thursday evening for public intoxication [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS – The man who injured himself in the back of a Cedar Rapids police squad car remains in the hospital as state investigators continue to work the case. Paul R. Saldivar, 33, of 1036 11th St. NE, was arrested Thursday evening after police said he caused problems at a downtown Cedar Rapids bar. [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS – Three teenagers were arrested Wednesday afternoon after police say they broke into a Cedar Rapids house to steal electronics. Officers were first called around noon to 6800 Devonshire Dr. NE when the homeowner reported a man had come into the house through her front door, while she was in the living room. [...]

Updated at 10:04 a.m. with comments from Sheriff Fisher CLERMONT – Fayette County authorities would like to know why the peacock crossed the road. Two vehicles collided Tuesday afternoon on Highway 18 just west of Clermont, and when deputies arrived, they heard the unusual explanation. A peacock had been in the roadway. According to the sheriff’s [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS – One of the three people shot last month inside an apartment near Kirkwood Community College may never walk again. Shannon Gaskins, 21, was shot once during an apparent robbery attempt on the afternoon of April 20 at 311 Kirkwood Court SW, No. 1. The bullet severed her spinal cord and left her paralyzed [...]

WALKER – Authorities said a Walker man sexually abused a girl over period of at least seven years and threatened to kill her and her family if she spoke up. Kyle D. Zweigle, 23, has been charged with three counts of second-degree sexual abuse. He is accused of forcing the alleged victim, now 17 years old, [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS – Police said a 17-year-old was behind the wheel of a sport-utility vehicle involved in a high-speed chase Monday. No one was hurt in the incident, which ended when the SUV crashed into a cable box and a fence on 16th Avenue SW near Jacolyn Drive SW. A total of four boys were [...]

ELY – An Ely man has been accused of using a handgun to force a juvenile relative to have sex with him last month. Matthew E. Brown, 41, has been charged with second-degree sexual abuse. Court documents indicate the incident happened April 24 at Brown’s residence, 2090 Dows St. According to a criminal complaint, Brown threatened [...]

Updated at 12:25 p.m. by Jeff Raasch CEDAR RAPIDS – Ten teenagers were cited by police after a fight broke out Monday at Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids. No serious injuries were reported in the fight, which began around 8:40 a.m. in the main foyer near the office. A police officer stationed at the school [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS – Cedar Rapids police released five surveillance photos of an armed robbery at a liquor store, with hopes that the public can identify the suspects. Point Liquor and Tobacco, 4107 Center Point Rd. NE, was robbed for the second time in seven months on April 12 . Two men were arrested for the first hold-up [...]

SPRINGVILLE – A Springville man has been charged with third-degree sexual abuse after an incident two months ago. Luis Rodriguez-Vidal, 42, is accused of committing a sex act with a 13-year-old girl on Feb. 22 at his residence, 201 John St., No. 2. According to a criminal complaint, Rodriguez-Vidal admitted the offense. Col. John Stuelke, of [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS – Police said a cracked windshield led them to a drunk driver and an active methamphetamine lab. Robert C. Embry, 27, address unknown, faces several charges following the traffic stop around 10:30 p.m. Thursday near the corner of F Avenue and Ellis Boulevard NW. Police said they stopped the car because it seemed like the [...]

Updated by Dave Franzman at 5:30 pm Updates in bold CEDAR RAPIDS – Ericka Adim wept Wednesday morning when she was told an arrest had been made in the shooting death of her son. About a dozen police officers swarmed the house at 1504 Sixth Ave. SE around 10:30 a.m. and took Dominique A. Fisher, 22, [...]