The sheriff’s office says the investigation uncovered misappropriation of city funds, falsifying of public records and ledgers to conceal embezzlement and assault with a dangerous weapon.
ARMSTRONG, Iowa Three current officials of an Iowa town – the mayor, police chief and city clerk – and one former official were reportedly arrested Friday for allegations of wrongdoing.
The arrests and 21 felony and misdemeanor counts follow a yearslong investigation into Armstrong, Iowa’s city
Three current officials of an Iowa town – the mayor, police chief and city clerk – and one former official were reportedly arrested Friday for allegations of wrongdoing.
Friday, February 12, the Emmet County Sheriff issued the following statement:
“On February 11, 2021, the Iowa Attorney General’s Office filed charges related to an investigation of current and former public officials and employees with the City of Armstrong in Emmet County, Iowa.
Mayor Greg Buum, police chief Craig Merrill, city clerk Tracie Lang, and former city clerk Connie Thackery were charged with felony and misdemeanor offenses in a 21-count joint trial information approved by the Emmet County District Court. The top count against Buum, Merrill, and Thackery is a charge of ongoing criminal conduct, a Class B felony. The top count against Lang is fraudulent practice in the first degree, a Class C felony. The trial information also alleges additional counts against some of the defendants for theft, felonious misconduct in office, non-felonious misconduct in office, tampering with records, assault with a dangerous weapon, and falsifying public documents, as committed by one