O’Brien County, Iowa — Two people were arrested Saturday on felony warrants after an O’Brien County Deputy located a vehicle in Sheldon that he knew to be associated with the pair.
According to the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office, their deputies set up a surveillance operation with assistance of officers from the Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol.
Authorities say 24-year-old Bradley Tyler Kots, of Sutherland, was arrested at the vehicle on an outstanding felony warrant from Cherokee County for Vehicle Theft and Operating Without Owners Consent.
Deputies say they then arrested 33-year-old Ashley Elaine Call, of Spencer, on an outstanding Clay County arrest warrant for Probation Violations, in a room at the Holiday Inn Express in Sheldon.
According to authorities, O’Brien County Deputies obtained a pair of search warrants, one for the room at the Holiday Inn Express and one for the suspect vehicle. The search of the hotel room reportedly resulted in the seizure of more than 32-grams of methamphetamine, as well as marijuana, drug paraphernalia and cash. Deputies say the vehicle search led to the seizure of drug paraphernalia and clothing.
Kots’ arrest warrant out of Cherokee County was for motor vehicle theft/1st degree theft. He is suspected in numerous vehicle thefts that occurred in northwest Iowa. The many vehicle thefts are still under investigation and criminal charges are pending the outcome of these investigations, according to authorities.
Authorities stress that criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
