The Marshalltown Fire Department is asking for the public’s assistance. Over the past several months Marshalltown Fire Department has responded to six fires that after investigation, have been determined to be intentionally set. Those locations include:

•   502 North 12th Ave
•   7 North 11th Street
•   719 N. 4th Ave
•   206 N. 4th Ave
•   510 E. Main St
•   712 E. Boone St

These homes were either abandoned or unoccupied at the time of the fire. On Friday, April 22, 2016, a passerby reported seeing a white male, 5’10” to 6' tall, in his early to mid 40s, with brown hair and wearing blue jeans, a blue hooded shirt, and a blue baseball cap standing outside the home at 712 E. Boone St. at the time of the fire. The witness said they saw the male did not have a beard, but described them as "scruffy looking". The Fire Department is asking the residents of Marshalltown to watch for and report suspicious activity in or around properties that are vacant.

  Additionally, should anyone have information pertaining to these fires, please contact Marshall County Crime Stoppers at (641) 753-1234 or www.marshallcountycs.com   All tips are completely anonymous and could earn a reward of up to $1,000 if the tip results in an arrest.

Update - The suspect photo captured during a burglary of KDAO AM/FM/TV that was previously released has been identified with great assistance from the public. Justin D. Sutton was located in Marshalltown on 4/7/16, arrested and charged with the offenses of Burglary, Theft, Criminal Mischief and Possession of Burglar Tools. Although Sutton has been charged, this is not a finding of guilt.

 Authorities are asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect in a recent burglary/break-in.

Shortly before 5 a.m. on March 31, the Marshall County Sheriff's Office received a report of a break-in at KDAO-TV, 1930 North Center Street Road, north of Marshalltown.

On Wednesday, Marshall County Chief Sheriff's Deputy Steve Hoffman told the Times-Republican that someone forcibly entered the building and did "a significant amount of damage.

"We are asking for the public's assistance in identifying the suspect who was captured on surveillance video" sometime early on the morning of the 31st, he said.

Those with any information about the suspect and/or the incident should call the Marshall County Communications Center at 641-754-5725.

They may also provide anonymous information through Marshall County Crime Stoppers. Tips may be submitted by calling (641) 753-1234, via text by texting the word "marshall" followed by the tip to CRIMES (274637), or online at www.marshallcountycs.com.

Hoffman said this burglary is among a handful of incidents throughout central and north central Marshall County within the past week.

He said burglaries have been reported at both residential and commercial properties and have occurred during overnight and daytime hours. That includes a recent break-in at the co-op in Liscomb where a door was smashed in.

"Again, anyone who has noticed any suspicious activity in the county should call the communications center," Hoffman said.

Courtesy of the Marshalltown Times-Republican. April 7, 2015

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and is a good time to focus public attention on the epidemic of sexual violence that plagues our communities.  The natural inclination for most of us is to say that these problems occur somewhere else, in much larger communities.  This type of thinking could not be further from the truth.  Sexual assault is a common problem that all police departments in Iowa deal with on a far too regular basis.  In 2015, the Marshalltown Police Department investigated 49 crimes related to sexual abuse, exploitation or sexual violence.  So far in 2016, the police department has investigated 15 of these crimes. 

Sexual assaults affect women, children, and men of all racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds.  None of us are immune to this devastating crime.  Rape crisis centers, victim advocacy groups, and law enforcement agencies work diligently to combat the crime of sexual abuse, to help survivors and to try to stop sexual assaults.  Unfortunately, resources for these efforts are thin.
 
In order to stop sexual assault, we all need to work for social change.  We all need to be more vocal in our fight against sexual assault and in our support of survivors.  When you consider that studies have shown one in four girls and one in six boys will experience some form of sexual abuse before the age of 18, it is highly likely someday, someone close to us -- such as our spouse, sister, brother, or even our son or daughter -- will report they have been sexually assaulted.

Many experts believe that rape and other forms of sexual assault are among the most underreported crimes.  According to a National Crime Victimization Survey conducted by the Justice Department for 2012, only 32 out of every 100 rapes are reported to the police.

The Marshalltown Police Department is committed to working with the Marshalltown community and our community partners to combat crimes of sexual violence.  If you are a victim of sexual assault and would like to seek out support services within Marshall County, you can contact the Assault Care Center Extending Shelter & Support (ACCESS) at 800.203.3488.  You may also report this crime to your local Marshall County law enforcement agency by calling 641.754.5725 or 911.  

For more information, please contact Police Chief Michael Tupper by calling 641.754.5771 or via email at [email protected].

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Tips regarding sexual assult or any other crime in Marshall County may be submitted to Marshall County Crime Stoppers by calling (641) 753-1234, via text by texting the word “marshall” followed by the tip to CRIMES (274637), or online.    All  tips  are  completely  anonymous and could earn a reward of up to $1,000 if the tip results in an arrest.