What's Going On In Armstrong, Iowa?

[progressoid]

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/

[kacekwl]

1. What a group of

sad sacks.

[SergeStorms]

2. Iowa's answer to the Trumps.

The resemblance is remarkable.

[TheRealNorth]

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

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.

[Scrivener7]

4. I have issues with facial recognition, so is it just me or do they all

look alike?

[OldBaldy1701E]

5. Any bets on their political affiliation? (n/t)

[Mawspam2]

6. The same Greg Buum who won $95k from...

...the Iowa Lotto in 2020.