Month: December 2022

The individual involved in the December 3, 2022 Officer Involved Shooting has been identified as Samantha Shumaker, (33).  Officers of the Mt Pleasant Police Department and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to reports of a domestic abuse incident where a male reported being held at gunpoint by Shumaker.  During the incident, Shumaker was observed brandishing a handgun in the direction of the male and in the direction of law enforcement.  Shumaker refused the officers orders to put the weapon down.  Shumaker received a gunshot wound to her arm and was immediately provided on-scene first aid.  Shumaker was transported to the Henry County Medical Center via ambulance and later transferred to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.

The name of the Deputy involved in the December 3, 2022 Officer Involved Shooting is Deputy Carlos Lopez, of the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Lopez has 2 years and 8 months of law enforcement experience. Deputy Lopez has cooperated and has been interviewed by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).  He will remain on Critical Incident Leave pending the outcome of the investigation.  Once the investigation is complete, the findings will be forwarded to the Henry County Attorney’s Office for review.

Original report

On December 3, 2022, at approximately 10:04 PM, Officers of the Mt Pleasant Police Department and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a domestic disturbance at 710 Main Street, where the male caller said he was being held at gunpoint.  Upon arrival, Officers encountered a man calling for help from the bathroom window.  He was able to exit the bathroom window.  While attempting to make contact with the subject, the subject brandished a weapon and an officer discharged their weapon.  The Officers were not injured during the encounter.  The subject sustained a gunshot wound to the right arm as a result of the officer involved shooting.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) was notified and requested to investigate the incident.  Per protocol, the Officer has been placed on Critical Incident Leave, pending the investigation.  The name of the subject is being withheld, pending the continued investigation.  The name of the officer is being withheld, pending an interview with DCI.

Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

One person was killed and another seriously injured in a two vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon near New London.  According to the Iowa State Patrol Norman Hirschy of Mount Pleasant died when the pickup he was driving crossed the center line and struck pickup driven by Sheila Wilkerson of New London.  Wilkerson was transported to University Hospitals by air. The crash occurred at about 3 pm of the 2500 block of 260th Street also known as Old Hwy 34 west of New London. This is the second fatal crash in a week and a half near New London.  Two people were killed in a single vehicle accident southeast of New London on November 26.

December 8, 2022

Approve Agenda

Approve Minutes

Approve Claims

9:00 Open Bids and Approve for Security, Fire and

Access Control Systems Installation & Monitoring Service

9:30 Approve Final Plat of John Clark Subdivision

Section 25 & 26-71-6

Other County Business as time allows

Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

Consumer Connection: Discussing Scams and Fraud with Your Family Members over the Holidays

Iowans should never provide their EBT Card number or PIN to others

DES MOINES – The Iowa Attorney General’s office and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services warn Iowans to be on the lookout for spam text messages regarding EBT cards.  

EBT cards are used to distribute government benefits like food assistance, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps.   

Both agencies have recently received reports from Iowans of text messages that indicate their EBT cards are locked. The message includes a phone number to call for assistance. Iowa HHS did not send these messages.  

Iowans should never share their card number or PIN number with anyone. Government agencies will never request your personal information, EBT card number, or PIN by text message.  

This scam is particularly serious because those who receive benefits rely on these funds to feed their families. However, benefits lost due to fraudulent or scam activity cannot be replaced. If you are the victim of an EBT scam, you should file a report with your local law enforcement agency. 

Scammers send messages to thousands of random phone numbers at a time. There is no indication EBT or SNAP households are being targeted directly.     

If you received a spam text message regarding a locked EBT card, please file a report with the Federal Trade Commission. 

The AG’s Consumer Protection Division provides the following tips for Iowans regarding spam text messages:  

• Do not reply or click on links to any unsolicited messages.  
• Don’t respond to spam text messages, even to ask the sender to stop contacting you. Responding verifies that your phone number is active and that you are willing to open messages, which may lead to an increase in the unsolicited text messages you receive.  
• Immediately delete text messages that ask you to confirm or provide personal information. 
• If you think the message might be real, contact the company using a phone number or website you know is real. Not the information in the text message. 

The Federal Trade Commission provide additional tips on spotting and reporting spam text messages. Read them here.