Dispatches From Iowa

Officers from the Des Moines Police Department tackled a naked man who was allegedly high on PCP just north of the downtown area shortly before 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 26. A Taser was also deployed in the incident.

The 32-year-old suspect was charged with three counts of assault on an officer, two counts of first-degree harassment, interference with official acts and public intoxication.

The suspect was bleeding when police arrived on scene and was later treated for unknown injuries.

A crowd that had gathered on scene before police arrived refused to disperse and threatened the police with racial remarks, the police report says. The first officers on scene called for all available units to be dispatched to the location. Officers used pepper spray on the crowd, and some complained that too many were sprayed.

Two more people were charged in connection with the incident. A 21-year-old male was charged with interference with official acts after he failed to disperse, police say. Another unidentified suspect was charged with possession of marijuana.

Click here to download the audio.

A Des Moines pitbull running at-large in the 800 block of East 27th Street was shot and killed by police after it attacked a civilian in the area before threatening to attack several officers, even forcing one officer onto the hood of his cruiser,

Two officers and the Animal Rescue League — which is now the animal control arm of Des Moines Police through contract — had attempted to capture the unlicensed pitbull but was unsuccessful before shooting the dog.

The dog’s caretaker was charged with confinement of a vicious dog. The dog’s owner also did not have the proper insurance required.

Click here to download the audio file.

Article: Des Moines pit bull handler charged in attack on neighbor (Des Moines Register)

Dispatch: 327 Adam?
327A: Is animal control available?
Dispatch: AR3?
AR3: Go ahead.
Dispatch: 327 Adam is asking if you are available to assist.
AR3: Yeah, I’m over on East Grand. Where are you at?
Dispatch: He’s at 818 East 27th, 818 East 27th.
AR3: 818 East 27th, you say?
Dispatch: That’s correct.
AR3: I’ll go on right over there.
Dispatch: 27 Adam?
27A: Have him step it up, I’m standing on my hood, the dog’s trying to bite me.
Dispatch: You have a dog standing on your hood trying to bite you? Is that what you said, sir?
27A: Negative. I’m on my hood, I’m about ready to Mace the dog.
Dispatch: AR3?
AR3: I’m headed that way.
Dispatch: 20:34.

Des Moines Police searches for a loose kangaroo on the city’s west side on Monday, May 18, 2009. Called in via an anonymous tip.

Click here to download the audio file.

Dispatch: 308?
308: 21st and Forest.
Dispatch: Could you go check the 1200 block of 46th, 1200 block of 46th, around the area of (static). Our crime alert caller says that they had just witnessed a kangaroo jump over the fence and it’s, uh, hoppin’ on down the street.
308: Did they give a direction of travel?
Dispatch: Negative.
308: Ok.
Dispatch: If you find the kangaroo, let me know and we’ll, uh, I guess call the zoo.
308: 10-4.
Dispatch: 16:09.
310: 10 car.
Dispatch: 310?
310: Our adventure’s taking us to 42nd and Uni, so we’ll look for the kangaroo also and if we find him, we’ll point him towards the Outback.
Dispatch: Wonderful, thank you.

The man known to scanner listeners as Unit 304 celebrated his 33rd birthday this evening, after dispatch, a supervisor and “the entire west side” wished him a happy birthday. After the birthday greeting, you can hear the other officers key up their radios also in celebration. (For the scanner geeks: the ID tone heard at the end of the transmissions is MDC-1200.)

Tip of the hat to the Register’s Daniel P. Finney for pointing it out.

Click here to listen (mp3)

Dispatch: 304?
304: 304.
Dispatch: Yes sir, per 501 and the entire west side, we’d like to wish you a happy 33rd birthday.
(Numerous MDC tones)

A Des Moines Police dispatcher can barely contain her laughter while assigning an officer to find a “pig with tusks and big teeth” in the 1200 block of East Seneca at approximately 1:44 a.m.

Click here to download the audio. 508 KB, 32 secs

Dispatcher: 123?
123: East 14th and Euclid.
Dispatcher: Check the 1200 block of East Seneca, 1200 block of East Seneca. (laughter) On a pig with tusks and big teeth that’s running around the parking lot and getting into people’s (laughter) trash.
123: (barely inaudible groan or laughter)