Oelwein council member, 4 others arrested on drug charges

Police arrested an Oelwein City Council member and four others on drug charges last week after executing search warrants at two properties.

Karen Anne Seeders, 43, an at-large member of the council and the Oelwein Community School District office manager, is among those charged. The Oelwein Daily Register reported that another person arrested, Michael James Seeders, 47, is her husband.

Officials with the city and Oelwein schools confirmed that the woman is on the council and works for the district. Josh Ehn, Oelwein schools’ superintendent, said she has been suspended from her job as the district investigates and cooperates with police.

At approximately 5:20 p.m., Friday the Oelwein Police Department conducted a search in the 100 block of N. Frederick Avenue followed by another search at 5:25 p.m. in the first block of Seventh Street NW, according to a news release. Illegal controlled substances were found and seized in both locations, police said.

All of those who were arrested are Oelwein residents.

Those arrested at the N. Frederick address were:

Those arrested at the Seventh Street NW address were Karen and the elder Michael Seeders. Both have been charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver for psilocybin — a Schedule I controlled substance, a Class C felony; and for marijuana under 50 kilograms, a Class D felony; failure to affix a drug tax stamp over 7 grams psilocybin substances, a Class D felony; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor.

The subjects were taken to the Fayette County Jail. Additional charges are pending, and the cases were still under investigation, police said. The Oelwein Police Department was assisted by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.