Dozens of incidents of violence detailed at home of Ankeny couple charged with abuse
LEE ROOD | The Des Moines Register
The Bell family police report timeline
On June 24, Reader’s Watchdog requested all the police reports in the last decade to the home or homes of John Elmer Bell and Joyce Marie Bell of Ankeny, who adopted nine disabled children from foster care and now are charged with child endangerment resulting in bodily injury.
Police turned over those incident reports three days later, as the Bells were about to be arrested. The reports lay out allegations of assault, physical and sexual abuse and violent outbursts.
2007
Aug. 4, 2007 — “Father has been yelling at people for at least the last 30 minutes or so … (possibly) outside the house.” Police say the father was yelling because the kids didn’t clean the basement.
2008
March 16, 2008 — Joyce Bell says one of the children is out of control and needs to be transported to the hospital.
Aug. 4 — Runaway report: Joyce Bell says one of the girls ran away from the home at 113 N.W. Scott St. and is hiding.
Dec. 16 — Runaway report: Joyce Bell says one of the kids has run away and needs to be sent to a shelter when returned.
Dec. 27 — Joyce Bell says one of the girls is out of control and punching the other kids. Police found the children arguing and fighting but all agreed to stay in separate rooms for the night.
2009
March 9, 2009 — Protect America notifies police of an alarm sounding.
March 16 — Call for child in need of assistance. No details given.
March 21 — Call for child in need of assistance at 120 N.W. Ash Drive: Makayla Bell says “she is being abused by her parents and she will not go back home.”
March 25 — Joyce Bell says a girl has run away from the home at 113 N.W. Scott St.
July 30 — Joyce Bell says one her daughters is missing. The girl is returned to the house.
2010
March 9, 2010 — Alarm goes off twice.
March 17 — Alarm goes off.
April 22 — Joyce Bell reports one of the children has run away. The child is located.
May 5 — A person calls to say she hears a man screaming inside the house, telling the kids to “get their f---ing a---s downstairs now,” and a bunch of kids were looking out the window like they needed help. The caller said the home is a known home for "handicapped kids" who are being treated unfairly and require a welfare check. Police report that “everything was OK. Kids were not wanting to take their baths before bedtime."
Nov. 23 — Joyce Bell says one of her daughters is yelling and punching John Bell, punched out her window, and is being physical with the other children. Mobile Crisis is called and the girl is transported.
Nov. 24 — Miscellaneous trip for follow-up. No other information given.
Dec. 16 — Protect America reports alarm sounding.
2011
Nov. 1, 2011 — Alarm.
2012
June 12, 2012 — Joyce Bell says one of the boys must go to court that day and she wants assistance.
Sept. 9 — Joyce Bell reports a fight because one of the girls who wants to go live with her uncle. She says the girl refuses to take her medications, but the girl is calm and agrees to.
Oct. 3 — Joyce Bell reports a possible child molestation case. Suspect is a family member who lives in the area, according to the report.
Oct. 12 — Joyce Bell says one of the girls says she was sexually abused. She asks that the girl be taken to the psych ward. But police find no evidence of suicidal comments or that an assault took place. The girl did not want to be sent to the Mercy ER.
Oct. 27 — Joyce Bell says one of her daughters is out of control and she wants her to go back to Mercy Franklin. But then she and John Bell decide the girl would just be released, so they keep her at home.
Nov. 4 — Suicide call: John Bell reports one of his daughters with a history of mental problems is cutting herself with glass in the basement. He also says the girl attacked her mother with glass.
Nov. 6 — Joyce Bell says a daughter with bipolar disorder has been cutting herself. The girl goes to the hospital willingly.
2013
May 30, 2013 — Ischemic attack of an 86-year-old woman.
June 8 — Strange truck keeps driving around the block.
2014
Jan. 21, 2014 — Incomplete 911 call. Mis-dial.
July 19 — Dispute: Joyce Bell contends a child with bipolar disorder needs to go to a shelter and has run off. The girl is brought home and says she is fine to be home.
July 21 — Animal call.
Sept. 21 — Animal call.
Sept. 25 — Assault: Joyce Bell says a child with bipolar issues kicked John Bell.
Oct. 27 — A family member reports a domestic assault involving Joyce Bell and one of her daughters.
2015
March 13, 2015 — Unknown problem. Caller says he hears a male and female screaming.
March 15 — Someone reports a disagreement between one of the girls and her parents.
March 16 — Krystal Bell calls and says her dad was pushing her and there’s blood on her wall from being injured. She says both of her parents ganged up on her the night before and there are guns in the house.
June 15 — Incomplete 911 call. Krystal has injuries, but police don’t find any new evidence that an assault took place.
Oct. 26 — A 23-year-old sister calls to report an assault of her and her boyfriend by one of the boys. The boy took his medications and calmed down.
Nov. 2 — Krystal Bell reports that her brother is on the phone with her, saying his mother is hurting him. The parents say the boy didn’t take his medications and is throwing things around the house.
Nov. 19 — A family member says her brother is out of control and is hitting family members. Police see no visible injuries.
Dec. 16 — Suspected vandalism at 113 N.W. Scott St.: Children heard someone knocking and door hinges were bent.
2016
March 24, 2016 — Welfare check: Makayla Bell says her little sister sent a video of her little brothers being beaten by their adoptive parents.
March 31 — Follow-up call. No details.
May 14 — Joyce Bell says one of the boys is upset and not taking his medications. “Parenting issue,” the report says. “Son took medication when he was advised cops were called.”
May 21 — Krystal Bell says her parents won’t give her her Social Security money. John Bell is yelling about the dryer not working and he wants money to get cigarettes. Parents gave back money.
May 30 — Alarm sounded.
June 16 — Joyce Bell says an 18-year-old girl will not leave the house. She says there are guns in a cabinet with a glass front. Mother wants police to tell the girl she cannot be in the house while the family is gone. Police tell Joyce it’s a civil issue.
June 17 — Joyce Bell says one of the boys is missing and is talking to his birth mother. “Ongoing parenting issue with foster parents and children,” the report says. “--- was found near home and willingly went home without issue.”
June 18 — Krystal Bell says she was kicked out of the house and she wants to go to her biological father’s home in Des Moines. John and Joyce Bell take her for the night.
June 23 — John Bell calls from 113 N.W. Scott St., and asks for one of the children to be transferred for a civil commitment.
June 24 — A girl says her 22-year-old friend came to get her things from her foster parents, grabbed one set of clothes and then didn’t come out of the house. Caller says she believes the girl is being held hostage. Police were told the subject was committed to the hospital.
July 11 — Deceased cat.
Oct. 6 — Two brothers are fighting. Joyce Bell wants police to make them take their medications.
Nov. 8 — Joyce Bell reports a family dispute and says a son is out of control. "Sounds like an assault took place," the police report says.
2017
Jan. 2, 2017 — Joyce Bell says one of the boys is out of control and assaulting people. “Parents were given options on dealing with their child,” the report says.
Jan. 17 — Mother and son are arguing. Officers helped the child calm down.
Jan. 22 — Joyce Bell says one of her sons is out of control and hitting their parents. She says her husband is bleeding. “Parents issue,” the report says. The boy “was calm upon officer arrival.”
Jan. 29 — One of the boys is said to be out of control and is being restrained. “Parenting issue,” the report says. “Provided options.”
Feb. 24 — A family member says one of the boys assaulted John Bell. Police mediated the situation.
March 9 — Joyce Bell says two brothers were fighting and one injured a hip.
March 12 — Joyce Bell says a child has bipolar disorder and is threatening to kill everyone. Police said the child was not combative and needed to take his medications.
April 23 — John Bell says his son is out of control and assaulting people. Police calmed everyone down.
April 29 — John Bell says he and his son got into a fight that turned physical. “Spoke with (redacted) and provided him with options,” the report says.
May 17 — John Bell says one of the boys is going off again. He says he is “tired of this and wants it to stop.” Parents were given options. The son was calm when police left.
May 18 — John Bell reports a fight. He runs outside the house at 113 N.W. Scott St. and says he has no idea what the boy is doing.
May 23 — A caller says a male at the house is out of control and off his medication.
June 29 — One of the kids is throwing stuff, making threats, attacking his parents. Police say the boy and his father got into an argument and pushing match.
July 7 — Joyce Bell calls and says one of the boys is causing problems. John Bell is trying to restrain him, but the boy says he is going to kill the family. She notes the guns are locked up.
July 12 — Child in need of assistance call: No details given.
July 27 — John and Joyce Bell are arrested on charges of child endangerment resulting in bodily injury.