Crime & PoliceNews
Two Minors Among Nine People Arrested in Northeast Iowa Drug Investigation
A pair of minors are among nine people arrested following a northeast Iowa drug investigation.
The West Union Police Department says the arrests were made after five search warrants were executed Friday (11.17) and Saturday (11.18) in West Union, Clermont and Waucoma. The joint operation also involved the Iowa State Patrol, the Chickasaw, Fayette and Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Offices, Decorah and Postville Police Departments, and Northeast Iowa Task Force members.
Taken into custody were 41-year-old Bryan Rear, 45-year-old Tina Schuler, and 47-year-old Tina Opitz, all of West Union; 43-year-old Joseph Wellman of Fayette, 52-year-old Judith Green of Postville, 42-year-old Nicole Kleppe of Waucoma, and 20-year-old Kylee Lickiss of Westgate. A 16 year-old juvenile and a 17-year-old minor, both from Waucoma, were also arrested.
West Union Police Chief Paul Bechthold says a combined 90 drug-related charges have been filed against the nine subjects. Charges include possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, THC oils and edibles and prescription drugs, plus possession with intent to deliver meth and marijuana, and child endangerment. In addition to the vast amounts of narcotics, law enforcement also found and seized 22 firearms including rifles, shotguns, and pistols.
Additional drug-related firearms charges are pending in the case, which was also assisted by the West Union Police and Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Units.
Here is the West Union, Iowa Police Department Facebook post rundown of the investigation:
On 11-17-23, and 11-18-23, In a joint operation, the West Union Police Department along with Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Northeast Iowa Task Force members, Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Office, Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office, Decorah Police Department, and Postville Police Department executed 5 drug narcotics related warrants in Fayette County which resulted in the arrests of 9 individuals and 90 drug related charges. Addresses that warrants were executed on were: 202 S Walnut St. West Union IA, 317 E Plum St. West Union IA, 5261 Great River Rd. Clermont IA, 118 1st Avenue NE Waucoma IA, and 103 3rd St. NE Waucoma IA. During the execution of the drug related warrants approximately 1 pound of marijuana, including THC oils and edibles, multiple grams of methamphetamine, numerous types of pills, paraphernalia and 22 firearms including rifles, shotguns, and pistols, were found and seized. The following individuals have been arrested and (or) Charged.
1. Bryan Lee Rear ,41 of West Union, arrested and charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance Schedule I,II,III, both C Felonies, Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance Marijuana, Gathering where Controlled Substances are Used, Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Offense Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Offense Marijuana, Possession of a Controlled Substance other Schedule I,II,III, all Class D Felonies. Rear was additionally charged with Gathering Where Controlled Substances are being used, Marijuana, 2 Counts of Unlawful Possession of a Prescription, serious Misdemeanors and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. This case is pending with further drug related firearms charges.
2. Joseph Timothy John Wellman, 43 of Fayette IA, was arrested and charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance Methamphetamine, 2 counts of Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance Schedule I,II,III, all C Felonies, Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance Marijuana, Gathering where Controlled Substances are Used, Methamphetamine, D Felonies. Wellman was additionally charged with Gathering Where Controlled Substances are being used, Marijuana, Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense Marijuana, Possession of a Controlled Substance other Schedule I,II,III, and 3 Counts of Unlawful Possession of a Prescription, all serious Misdemeanors, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. This case is pending with further drug related firearms charges.
3. Judith Ann Green, 52 of Postville, was arrested and charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance Schedule I,II,III, both C Felonies, Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance Marijuana, Gathering where Controlled Substances are Used, Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Offense Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Offense Marijuana, Possession of a Controlled Substance other Schedule I,II,III, all Class D Felonies. Green was additionally charged with Gathering Where Controlled Substances are being used, Marijuana, 2 Counts of Unlawful Possession of a Prescription, Serious Misdemeanors, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
4. Tina Marie Schuler, 45 of West Union IA, was arrested and charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance Methamphetamine, a Class C Felony, Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Offense, Methamphetamine, a Class D Felony, 2 counts of Child Endangerment, Aggravated Misdemeanors, Operating While Intoxicated, Serious Misdemeanor, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Simple Misdemeanor.
5. Tina Opitz, 47 of West Union IA, was arrested and charged with Possession of Methamphetamine 1st Offense, Possession of Marijuana 1st Offense, Serious Misdemeanors, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and 2 counts of Animal Neglect, Simple Misdemeanors.
6. Nicole Alissa Kleppe, 42 of Waucoma IA, was arrested and Charged with Distribution of Illegal Substances to a Person Under 18 year of Age, a Class B Felony, 2 Counts of Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance Schedule I,II,III, both C Felonies, Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana, Possession with Intent to Deliver Canibidoil, Gathering Where Controlled Substances are being Used-other, 2 Counts of Drug Tax Stamp Violations, Delivery of a Controlled Substance-Marijuana, All D Felonies. Kleppe was additionally charged with 2 counts of Child Endangerment, Aggravated Misdemeanors, Gathering Where Controlled Substances are being used Marijuana, Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense Marijuana, Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs, Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense, Canibidoil, , Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense Other Schedule I, II, III, all Serious Misdemeanors, and Interference, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Simple Misdemeanors. This case is pending with further drug related firearms charges.
7. A 17-year-old juvenile from Waucoma IA, arrested, charged, and transported to Juvenile Detention. The juvenile was charged with Distribution of Illegal Substances to a Person Under 18 year of Age, a Class B Felony, 2 Counts of Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance Schedule I,II,III, both C Felonies, Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana, Possession with Intent to Deliver Canibidoil, Gathering Where Controlled Substances are being Used-other, 2 Counts of Drug tax Stamp Violations, Delivery of a Controlled Substance-Marijuana, all D Felonies, Gathering Where Controlled Substances, Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense Marijuana, , Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense, Canibidoil , Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense Other Schedule I, II, III, Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs, all Serious Misdemeanors, and Interference, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Simple Misdemeanors. This case is pending with further drug related firearms charges.
8. Kylee Kay Lickiss, 20 of Westgate, was arrested and charged with Gathering Where Controlled Substances are being Used-other, a Class D Felony, Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense Marijuana, , Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense, Canibidoil , Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense Other Schedule I, II, III, Gathering Where Controlled Substances are used-Marijuana, all Serous Misdemeanors, Interference with Official Acts and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Simple Misdemeanors.
9. A 16 year old minor from Waucoma, was charged with Gathering Where Controlled Substances are being Used-other, a Class D Felony, Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense Marijuana, Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense, Canibidoil, Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense Other Schedule I, II, III, Gathering Where Controlled Substances are used-Marijuana, all Serous Misdemeanors, Interference with Official Acts and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Simple Misdemeanors.
More charges are pending. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office was additionally assisted by Gunderson Ambulance Service, a West Union K-9 Unit, and the Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit.
