OELWEIN – The small Iowa town of Oelwein has dealt with its share of tension in recent days, as its mayor resigned in the wake of child sex abuse allegations and a man tried to murder a police officer.
Mayor Jason Manus resigned at the August 25 Oelwein city council meeting after being released from jail days earlier. An investigation showed that Manus, in July and August of 2010, allegedly sexually abused a 14-year-old child four times and a 9-year-old child once. As a result of that investigation, the sheriff’s office filed five counts of sexual abuse in the second degree on Jason Joseph Manus, age 36 of Oelwein and a warrant for his arrest was issued. Manus was elected mayor of Oelwein in 2013 in a very tight election. He was sworn in to office in January.
The police department in Oelwein stayed out of the investigation and arrest of Manus, and allowed the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office to handle the job. It was reported in the Des Moines Register that the town of 6,400 people was “stunned” by the allegations.
According to Jamie Letzring, City Administrator of Oelwein, “The Oelwein City Council, Administration would like to express our deepest concerns for those involved in today’s development. Our dedicated employees will remain focused on improving our City and making positive change.”
On September 17, Manus pled not guilty to the charges against him, and an October jury trial is scheduled.
In another blow to the community, part of town was cordoned off on September 11 when a man allegedly tried to murder an Oelwein police officer. Abel Quijas Jr., 33 of Maynard, Iowa, was wanted for one count of Attempted Murder involving a Peace Officer in Oelwein on the afternoon of September, 11, 2014. After that incident, law enforcement converged on the city and blocked off a section of town as they searched for the suspect.
Quijas Jr. was taken into custody without incident on the morning of September 12, 2014.
In a statement released Wednesday, September 17, the Oelwein Police Department thanked the public for all of its support and assistance during the September 11, 2014 incident concerning Quijas Jr.
“This incident has greatly affected our department and our community as a whole. It is times like this that reminds all us of the ever increasing threats that our officers face. We are proud of our officers, and the responding agencies, for their commitment to making our community safe. It is with your steadfast support that our department and the officers involved in this unfortunate incident are able to move forward in a positive fashion. Let us use this incident as a building block and let us continue the positive proactive community oriented policing that we so vehemently believe in so we may all have a hand in keeping our community safe from those who may do us harm.”
SUBJECT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
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