The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 12

Metro Edition The Pes Moines Register Page 2B Tuesday, November 1, 2011 Metro Communities From Register staff and news services Richter said no to assisting sketch artist, witness says mi cials said they decided to keep the existence of the notebook secret because anybody aware of it would know about the crime. Buttheex-DCI agent says she'd described the suspect in detail. By RYAN i. FOLEY Associated Press FORT DODGE la. A mother who claims she killed a neighbor to defend herself and her children during a home invasion described a second intruder in detail but later refused to help police develop a sketch of the suspect, an investigator testified at her -If WEST DES MOINES Intimidation led to shooting, man says A West Des Moines resident told police that he shot another man because he felt intimidated during an argument that followed an apparent case of road rage.

Jay Rodney Lewis, 49, was being held at the Polk County Jail after the Sunday morning incident in the 1100 block of 11th Street in West Des Moines. James Ludwick of Ankeny was taken to Mercy Medical Center to have the gunshot wound treated and was released later that day. Lewis called police after the shooting, according to a police report. When officers arrived, they saw him standing next to a blue Ford Mustang in a parking lot south of Regency Woods apartments. Police said Ludwick came toward an officer's vehicle with blood covering his shirt.

Police ordered Lewis to the ground at gunpoint and took him into custody. Officers found a handgun on the trunk lid of Lewis' vehicle. Lewis told police in an interview that there was a road-rage incident between him and Ludwick and Justin Lossner of Urbandale, who were traveling in a Ford Taurus. The men had a minor collision in the area of the 1100 block of 11th Street. Lewis told police that the driver of the Taurus struck his car, went around him and blocked him from entering the parking lot at 1137 11th St.

Lewis got into an argument with Ludwick and Lossner and parked nearby. Lewis told police that Ludwick and Lossner parked and began to approach him, making him feel intimidated. He told the men he had a gun and that he was going to shoot. When the exchange became heated for a second time, Lewis fired the gun, hitting Ludwick in the right side of his chest, he said. Ludwick and Lossner ran, and Lewis called police.

111 I 1 murder trial Monday. Tracey Richter, 45, has claimed a second person fled her home after she shot Dustin Wehde, 20. However, prosecutors say there was no home invasion and no second intruder, and that Richter shot Wehde in an effort to keep him quiet about a plot to frame her ex-husband. Richter is charged with first-degree murder in the Dec. 13, 2001, shooting at her home in Early, a farming town of 500 people in Tracey Richter listens Monday to testimony as a page from a notebook allegedly kept by Dustin Wehde is displayed on a monitor in Webster County District Court during her trial in Fort Dodge, hans madsenassociated press photos DCI forensic document examiner Gary Licht said several pages in the note-1 book that claim Richter's first husband, Virginia plastic surgeon John Pit-j man III, hired Wehde as a hit man were consistent with Wehde's handwriting.

But Licht said one page filled with apparently random numbers deep inside the notebook was written in a different style. Licht said impressions he lifted from the first page of the journal suggesting someone had either torn out an earlier page or written on a sheet on top of the notebook also had a different style. Licht said he could not determine whether any of the writing was consistent with Richter's because the sample of hers he was given "did not have a good internal consistency." Prosecutors used the testimony of Moser, who retired from DCI in 2007, to highlight inconsistencies in Richter's claims of a home invasion. Moser said Richter told him "she would be willing to bet her life she didn't fire more than four" shots from the first gun. The evidence shows she fired 10.

Moser said she told him during an interview days after the shooting that neither of the alleged intruders wore a face mask. She told a friend later that one did. Shortly after Richter did not show up for the sketch meeting, Moser said he determined it was unlikely that a second intruder was involved. He said he never interviewed a local man who defense lawyers have suggested was the second intruder because "it was not a logical lead to pursue." Lewis is charged with two counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon and going armed with intent. A cash-only bail has been set at $225,000.

guns. Prosecutors said Richter forced Wehde, a troubled loner who played paintball with her second husband, to write inside a pink spiral notebook that her ex-husband had hired Wehde to kill her and their son. They claim she then planted the notebook in Wehde's car, where it was discovered after the shooting. Richter and her ex-husband were in a custody fight at the time. The trial started last week at the Webster County Courthouse in Fort Dodge.

Richter could be sent to prison for the rest of her life if convicted. Testimony Monday showed that investigators did not find proof of Richter's handwriting or fingerprints on the notebook, a key piece of evidence in the case. Law enforcement offi- northwest Iowa. Dan Moser, a retired special agent with the state Division of Criminal Investigation, testified that Richter told him days after the shooting that the second intruder was a tall, 35-year-old white male with wavy brown hair. Moser said he wanted Richter to attend a meeting in February 2002 to help an expert draw a composite sketch so they could try to identify the suspect.

Richter's father, a retired Chicago police officer, called DCI and said she would not participate. Richter claims Wehde and another man broke into her house while her husband was away on business and she was watching her children, ages 11, 3, and 1. She said she was choked DES MOINES Police: Neighbor's call stopped burglary A neighbor's call to Des Moines police helped officers stop a burglary and apprehend a suspect, officials said. The neighbor called just before 2 p.m. Monday after hearing a door being kicked in, and when officers got to a house in the 1800 block of Lincoln Avenue they heard noise coming from an attached garage, according to a police news release.

One person left through a window and fled when police announced their presence. Temarco Sartorio Pope 18, was arrested inside the house. Pope escaped briefly and was taken into custody again two blocks away, police said. Phong Tran, the homeowner, locked himself in the basement when the back door was kicked in. He was not injured.

In the news release, Sgt. Chris Scott credited the neighbor's phone call for the arrest. No information on the other burglar was available. Pope was charged with second-degree burglary and escape from custody. He was being held Monday night at the Polk County Jail on $15,000 bond.

Police arrest suspect in stabbing Des Moines police say they have arrested a man who stabbed a friend who visited his apartment Friday. Kenneth C. Hardy, 47, of Des Moines was arrested late Monday on suspicion of attempted murder, first-degree robbery, second-degree theft and false impris The Division of Criminal Investigation's Eugene Czarneki holds up the notebook cover. No proof of Richter's fingerprints or handwriting was found on the notebook. breaking free, unlocking a gun safe and shooting Wehde nine times with two with pantyhose before D.M.

graduations will return to Knapp Center after complaints onment. Shane Schuler told police on Friday that he went to visit Hardy in the 1900 block of Courtland Drive, but Hardy stabbed him in the side with a knife. Schuler got away and fled to call police. Schuler's girlfriend had driven him to the apartment. Anna Kaufman, 23, of Des Moines told police a man raced to her car, jumped inside and drove away before letting her out a short distance away.

Schuler's injuries were treated at a hospital. Police said there was no sign of a struggle in the apartment, although they did find two glass pipes for smoking methamphetamine. Seniors can learn about health benefits tions, Roeder said the flat space did not did not work as well for graduation. "Hy-Vee Hall is a terrific facility for a lot of different events, but, given our needs and budget, an auditorium-type facility provides us with a better venue for our needs," Roeder said in an email. Roosevelt High School Principal Kathie Danielson said the issues arose when parents, attempting to see or take pictures of their graduate, would block the view of other spectators.

That can be avoided by holding graduation in a venue with auditorium- By GRANT RODGERS grodgersdmreg.com Commencement ceremonies for Des Moines high schools will be moving back to the Drake University Knapp Center after poor experiences at Hy-Vee Hall for last May's graduations. The district received complaints that attendees could not see graduates or hear the ceremony, said Phil Roeder, a spokesman for the school district. While Hy-Vee Hall downtown may be great for certain events such as trade shows or conven the Kn-pp Center is almost equal to the cost of this year's ceremonies at Hy-Vee Hall. Each of the high schools has between $5,000 and $6,000 in its budget for graduation. After next May's commencement ceremonies, Roeder said, the district will evaluate the best location to hold future ceremonies at the beginning of each year.

"We want to make sure that families have the best experience for the commencement ceremony in a place that everybody can see and hear the event comfortably," he said. style seating, Danielson said. "At the Knapp Center we can control and run a smooth and dignified ceremony," Danielson said. Using Hy-Vee Hall for last spring's commencements was a temporary solution for the district during the renovation of Veterans Memorial Auditorium, also part of the downtown Iowa Events Center. Lower costs had prompted the district several years ago to move graduations from the Knapp Center to Veterans Auditorium, Roeder said.

He said the cost of holding graduation this year at Your 2 Cents' Worth Go to DesMoinesRegister.com2cents to enter your brief comments. Find more comments online. Correction Photos accompanying Monday's Metro Iowa story about St. Paul Lutheran Church gave the wrong identities of people pictured. The Rev.

Ron Mohr is in the photo that was on Page 5A, and the Rev. Keith Lingwall is in the photo on Page 8A. To Area Code 51243. Not everyone who is out of work is there by choice. When hunt and will not get my vote.

Remember, people, how that was snuck through, and don't vote for your representatives who voted for it. Don't forget at election time China's economy grew at 9.1 in the third quarter U.S. unemployment is at The Alliance for Retired Americans and Know Your Care will conduct an educational event for seniors at 1 p.m. today at the Franklin Avenue Library, 5000 Franklin to promote the preventive care benefits for seniors available in the Affordable Care Act. The event is meant to educate seniors about how the preventive care benefits will impact them as Medicare beneficiaries.

Police announce speed camera locations Des Moines police on Monday released locations for the city's mobile speed enforcement camera, which records traffic for the purpose of issuing speeding citations. TODAY: 1700 block of Guthrie Avenue, westbound. WEDNESDAY: 1400 block of the Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway downtown bypass, eastbound. THURSDAY: 3000 block of Southwest McKinley Avenue, westbound.

FRIDAY: 1300 block of Keosauqua Way heading downtown. 3 arrested on weapons charges Three men were arrested Sunday on weapons charges after a gun was fired on the south side of Des Moines where a party was being held, police said. Taken into custody on charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, possession of a stolen weapon and manner of conveyance were Traeon Blakley, 20, Le-'Prese Williams, 19, and Aaron Dennie, 19, all of Des Moines. Police said a party was in progress in the 3800 block of Southwest 56th Street about 12:30 a when men riding in a green Chevrolet Tahoe arrived. An argument began.

One of the men in the truck got out, lifted up the hood and took out a gun. A witness reportedly took video as a man shot the gun in the air. A witness told police the man earlier said something about shooting someone. The occupants of the Tahoe drove away. Meanwhile a witness sent an email to police with pictures of the truck and its license plate number.

Crime scene investigators were sent to the scene to pick up spent shell casings. Officers stopped a Chevrolet Tahoe at Southwest 14th Street and Park Avenue. The three suspects were de-tamed as officers looked under the hood. Two guns were found, including one that had been stolen in Indiana, police said. The men were arrested.

Dennie later was released from jail. Blakley and Williams were still in custody on Monday morning Register mobile site CEOs get $3 million plus bonuses and then outsource the work, that's when the general public gets upset. But with your arrogance, you probably don't want to hear about the "unproductive-poor's plight. It's called corporate greed. Walk a mile in my shoes Don't forget at election time how the mourning dove bill was snuck through without the public's input with 80 against.

It should be appealed. Remember at election time to not vote for elected officials who went for the money from the NRA instead of doing what's right. Don't forget at election government suggests it forget it! Des Moines Woman Either find a job or create a job, don't depend on the government to find or create one for you. I've done both. Protesting won't feed your family, nor put clothes on them.

Hard work, not handouts from the government, will make you a success in business and life. I dont feel for those who don't try. Des Moines Man I am canceling my subscription to The Des Moines Register. If the Register "reduces" the negative information, stops publishing articles about fools killing animals, and starts making a positive impact on society, then I'll reinvest in their payroll. You may not care, but I do.

Good- bye. Johnston Ammo! Lover The recent glass bowl set gift at Prairie Meadows was pretty junky, but the information on the box it came in was hilarious. Worth the trip. Take the time to read it over rf you have one Do nitt bt heated when nothing in bowl 9.1. See any correlation? Protectionist lowan Dear Republican: By now, if you don't know the difference between a zip code and an area code, I'd say you have bigger problems than worrying about public welfare systems.

I'm all for welfare reform, but if it's going to be done by people like you, we're all in trouble. Educated in the 515 My granddaughter got both shots of Gardasil when she was 13. She recently gave birth to her first child, and now has HPV. So much for the do all. be all, end all drug that was supposed to prevent this from happening' If the Get Des Moines Register news on your smart phone.

Go to m.desmoines register.com or Kan the OR code above (iPhooe users, download a free QR code reader in the App Store). time I agree, I had pairs of mourning doves at my feeders for years and haven't had any. One of my legislators is calling for election donations. He will not get any from me: he How to Contact Us Kathy A Sottm met'o nwi (51S) 2M liti com Contact a fpocfr: ft'Sj 26 06S Cmait: metroofd'wp9 com voted for the mourning clove.