The Indianola Police Department made multiple arrests following an investigation that began from a report in the alleged attempted sexual abuse of a minor early Tuesday morning.

According to the department, at approximately 4:30 Tuesday morning, the Indianola Police Department deployed the Special Response Team to execute a search warrant on the 1600 block of West 3rd Avenue in Indianola, with the male suspect Jason Witzke, age 41 of Indianola, arrested.

A female suspect in connection to the felony investigation was apprehended later that morning, as Valerie Cross, age 39 of Creston, was arrested in Greenfield.

Both individuals were transported to the Warren County Jail, with Witzke being charged with Conspiracy to Commit Forcible Felony, a Class C Felony, and Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, a Class D Felony, among other misdemeanor charges. Cross has been charged with Enticing a Minor, a Class D Felony, Conspiracy to Commit Forcible Felony, a Class C Felony, Assault with Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse, an Aggravated Misdemeanor, and multiple other misdemeanor charges.

The department also says evidence indicates that both Witzke and Cross enticed a minor for the purpose of sexual contact to a residence in Indianola, and the investigation is ongoing.

The Special Response Team, which was organized in 2023 and its operations officially launched in 2024, consists of law enforcement officials from the Indianola Police Department, Carlisle Police Department, Warren County Sheriff’s Office and Warren County Attorney’s Office. The Indianola Police Department would like to also thank the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s Cyber Crime Bureau, Greenfield Police Department, Creston Police Department, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and the Blank Children’s STAR Center for their assistance in this case.