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Iowa

progressoid

(50,747 posts) Wed Apr 20, 2022, 03:39 PM Apr 2022

What's Going On In Armstrong, Iowa?

If your town, allegedly, had a mayor who abused his power, a city clerk who embezzled funds, and a corrupt police department—all at the same time—then you might be from Armstrong, Iowa.

The town of around 875 people in Emmet County near the Minnesota border was rocked last February when Armstrong’s mayor, police chief, and city clerk—plus a former city clerk—were arrested on 21 different criminal charges, including felonies.

Mayor Greg Buum, Clerk Tracie Lang, and former Clerk Connie Thackery were all arrested Feb. 12, 2021, by the Emmet County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation after a years-long investigation. Police Chief Craig Merrill was arrested Feb. 13, 2021, by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota and extradited back to Iowa.

The criminal charges against the four include those related to “misappropriation of city funds, the presentation of fraudulent public records, deploying a TASER against a civilian in exchange for cash, and falsification of ledgers to conceal embezzlement.”

And the arrests keep coming...https://iowastartingline.com/2022/04/20/whats-going-on-in-armstrong-iowa/

6 replies

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Highlight:

What's Going On In Armstrong, Iowa? (Original Post) progressoid Apr 2022 OP

What a group of kacekwl Apr 2022 #1

Iowa's answer to the Trumps. SergeStorms Apr 2022 #2

In my experience, cities like Chicago or New York have nothing on small towns or counties..... TheRealNorth Apr 2022 #3

I have issues with facial recognition, so is it just me or do they all Scrivener7 Apr 2022 #4

Any bets on their political affiliation? (n/t) OldBaldy1701E Apr 2022 #5

The same Greg Buum who won $95k from... Mawspam2 Apr 2022 #6

kacekwl

(7,511 posts)

1. What a group of

Reply to progressoid (Original post)

Wed Apr 20, 2022, 03:43 PM

Apr 2022

sad sacks.

SergeStorms

(19,312 posts)

2. Iowa's answer to the Trumps.

Reply to progressoid (Original post)

Wed Apr 20, 2022, 03:55 PM

Apr 2022

The resemblance is remarkable.

TheRealNorth

(9,629 posts)

3. In my experience, cities like Chicago or New York have nothing on small towns or counties.....

Reply to progressoid (Original post)

Wed Apr 20, 2022, 03:55 PM

Apr 2022

When it comes to corruption. Fact is bureaucracies are an impediment to corruption, and corruption can be more easily done and go undetected when there are fewer people that are involved.