ARION, IOWA – A Northern Iowa man having wife troubles got himself armed, made threats, and then was hunted by cops.
37-year old Justin Allen Pope from Odebolt, Iowa was taken in to custody by area law enforcement after Sac County authorities had been searching for Pope since Sunday December 5, 2021. On December 5, 2021 Sac County authorities took a call from Pope’s separated wife reporting Pope had contacted her and was threatening to kill another person. Pope had also made threats of suicide by cop. Witnesses reported to law enforcement seeing Pope putting firearms in his car prior to leaving his home at 408 South Main Street in Odebolt, Iowa. These threats are believed to be from an incident on November 28, 2021 when Pope is alleged to have forced entry in to the apartment occupied by his separated wife in Odebolt, Iowa. In the apartment, Pope physically assaulted an adult male inside. At that point, the male victim and Pope’s separated wife did not to pursue charges. After several other threats over the phone, during the week of December 5, 2021, Pope was located at a residence just north of Arion, Iowa in Crawford County. Buena Vista County sheriff’s office assisted Sac County in determining Pope was in Crawford County, Iowa.
Prior to law enforcement arriving on the property located at 2662 210th Street, Arion, Pope fled the area on foot. Law enforcement from the Sac County, Crawford and Shelby County sheriff’s office along with the Iowa State Patrol and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer assisted in the area search. Sac County K-9 Remo was able to located Pope hiding in a wooded area along a picked corn field about ¾ of a mile from 2662 210th Street. Pope was taken into custody without further incident or injuries. Pope was unarmed at the time of his arrest.
K-9 Remo, his handler and a Shelby County sheriff’s deputy did an outstanding job tracking Pope in adverse weather conditions and terrain. Freezing rain and wind were a factor as well as a hilly uneven terrain.
Pope was held in the Sac County Jail on a $32,000.00 cash bond, but appears to have been released. He has been charged with burglary 1st degree, harassment 1st degree and going armed with intent.
