An Odebolt man was arrested on felony charges on Saturday following a search that began on Sunday, Dec. 5. On that date, the Sac County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the wife of 37-year-old Justin Allen Pope. The parties were separated and Pope had allegedly threatened to kill her and another person. Pope also announced his intentions to commit “suicide by cop.” This followed a Nov. 28 incident in which it is alleged Pope forced his way into his separated wife’s apartment and physically assaulted a male inside. Neither party pursued charges at that time. However, Pope made several threatening phone calls during the week of Dec. 5. During the investigation, witnesses told authorities they had seen Pope loading firearms into his vehicle prior to leaving his home in the 400 block of South Main Street in Odebolt. With the assistance of the Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office, it was determined Pope was staying at a residence north of Arion in Crawford County. Prior to their arrival, Pope fled on foot. Sac, Crawford and Shelby County authorities, the Iowa State Patrol and an officer with Commercial Vehicle Enforcement assisted in the search. Sac County K-9, Remo, was deployed and tracked Pope through freezing rain and driving winds across rough terrain and into a wooded area along a picked corn field, approximately three quarters of a mile from the residence. Pope was unarmed and taken into custody without further incident. He was transported to the Sac County jail where he is being held on a $32,000 cash bond. Pope has been charged with first-degree burglary, a class B felony, going armed with intent, a class D felony, and first-degree harassment, an aggravated misdemeanor.
