Area landowners want brakes put on levee joyriding

John Mangalonzo

A teenager allegedly driving on a levee maintained by the Iowa River Flint Creek Levee District 16 near Schulz's Landing, has renewed the call from landowners living near the area for people who have no business on the levee to stay out.

With their memories still stinging from the devastation brought by the Flood of 2008, landowners said they have been having problems over the years with people disregarding the integrity of the levee, taking their pickup trucks and 4-wheelers and driving on and around the barrier erratically.

Late Sunday afternoon, Des Moines County Sheriff's deputies cited Jonathan Randall Kingyon, 17, of West Burlington for driving on the levee, a serious misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail along with thousands of dollars in fines.

Deputies pulled over a red Chevrolet Blazer near the location. The driver, later identified as Kingyon, allegedly told authorities he had been coming from Schulz's Landing with some friends, denying he had been driving on the levee.

Oetken told deputies he had received calls from other property owners reporting the Blazer in the area, driving on the levee.

Moments later, Burlington police officers stopped the Chevrolet S10 pickup.

The driver of the pickup, who was not identified, allegedly has told officers he got into Kingyon's Blazer, and Kingyon drove up on the levee and "cut cookies."

Deputies then confronted Kingyon about the information. He again told authorities he had not driven on the levee but later allegedly recanted that statement and admitted he drove on the levee for a "short time."

The levee protects approximately 28,000 acres of farmsteads, officials said, and any damage can have devastating effects. There are 35 miles of levee in district 16.

"It (Blazer) was going up the side of the levee, and it would spin to the side, then it would come back down and then make another run up the side," Oetken said. "He was doing that for quite some time. He was going half-a-mile sweeps."

Oetken and other landowners said they estimate the joy ride lasted anywhere from 20 to 25 minutes.

With the trespassing problem getting worse, Oetken said he is circulating a petition to put a gate on 160th Street and allow access only to those with legitimate business.

"That should help alleviate that problem quite a bit," he said. "We're concerned with the condition and well-being of the levee because we were just half an inch away from being under (last June)."

Land owners and farmers said the only reason the district is putting up a gate is because joy-riders "have been getting away from driving for so many years."

Things are different now, they said, because they will be watching very closely and report the culprits to authorities.

"The levee protects thousands of acres of farmland and property," said Des Moines County Sheriff Mike Johnstone. "We take it very seriously, and if you're caught up there, you're going to be arrested, and you'll be charged with a significant crime."

Luckily, when the incident happened Sunday, the ground was still frozen and damages can be fixed with a few hundred dollars. But officials say its not the cost, but the thought of the damages putting other peoples lives and livelihoods in jeopardy.

"We know there's a lot of good people out there, and I'm not saying this kid is bad, but sometimes poor judgment can get somebody into big trouble," Oetken said. "Think about it before you drive on that levee because anybody that thinks that's a good idea, the landowners are watching."

Kingyon is set to appear in court Jan. 27.

Oetken said if Kingyon is convicted, the district will seek restitution for the damages.

"This kid really lucked out," Oetken said. "If it hadn't been frozen, it would have been in the thousands of dollars worth of damage."

Source: http://www.thehawkeye.com/Story/Levee-damage-012309

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