The Department of Criminal Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Waterloo early yesterday morning. Officers with the Waterloo Police Department and Black Hawk County deputies were called to Commercial Street around 12:45 a.m. for a report of a man walking toward downtown with a long gun. Deputies found the suspect near the West 6th Street Bridge. When deputies made contact with the man, he pointed his weapon at the initial deputy at hip level and chased after the deputy. A Waterloo police officer saw what was happening and fired at the suspect, hitting him twice. The suspect was taken to Allen Hospital for initial treatment, then transported to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Authorities are not releasing the extent of his injuries, but say he is expected to survive. The officer and deputies were uninjured. Authorities have recovered what appears to be a BB gun that looked like a real rifle at the scene.
The Linn County Board of Supervisors has approved an amendment to the Unified Development Code. The significant change in the amendment involves allowing small animals in rural residential zoning districts. The change takes effect on April 14 after publication. The amendment formally allows for the keeping of chickens and other small animals on lots in residential zoning districts in unincorporated Linn County. Roosters are prohibited, and there is a limit on the number of small animals per acre. Show animals and juvenile animals less than eight months of age are exempt from these limits.
Around 275 county sheriffs from 39 states including Iowa signed a letter to President Biden this week, urging him to secure the border and stop the mass influx of illegal immigration. This included ten sheriff’s offices in Iowa — Wayne, Clayton, Iowa, Carroll, Lucas, Shelby, Greene, Scott, Cerro Gordo, and Grundy counties…about 10 percent of Iowa’s elected sheriffs. The Massachusetts county sheriff who led the national effort said the President is knowingly and intentionally undermining America’s Sheriffs and their collaborative efforts with local, state and federal public safety partners to enforce the rule of law. He added that the policies of the Biden administration are placing citizens, neighborhoods and the nation in public safety and public health danger.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said Wednesday that more than 1.7 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Iowa. Reynolds said 44 percent of Iowans age 18 and older have received at least one dose of vaccine…87 percent of individuals that are 65 and older have had at least one dose…overall, 28 percent of Iowans are fully vaccinated. This week, Iowa received its largest vaccine allocation to date. COVID-19 vaccine eligibility opened up for Iowans 16 and older earlier this week. While Gov. Reynolds strongly encourages Iowans to get vaccinated, she said she will not mandate vaccination or require “vaccine passports.” In fact, the governor said if necessary, she’d issue an executive order against such passports.
A group of Norwalk High School students were criticized for holding a “back the blue” event…during Derek Chauvin’s trial for the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. Students showed up at the Norwalk Police Department around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday with some doughnuts to show support for police, fire, and EMS. They also held a canned goods collection drive, donating to the Norwalk food pantry in the Police Department’s name. Some say the timing of the event is disrespectful to the black community, but student organizers say it has nothing to do with the trial but rather showing support for front-line workers.
A Colorado man is facing several charges after a motorcycle pursuit in north Iowa reached speeds in excess of 130 miles per hour. The Iowa State Patrol says Cody Bohanan Smith was arrested Tuesday after an incident that began when he was clocked driving 110 miles per hour on Interstate-35 at milemarker 156. A short time later, he was clocked going more than 130 miles per hour as law enforcement attempted to pull him over. Smith was passing vehicles on the right and left shoulders, before he eventually exited on Highway 18. He continued to elude law enforcement until he lost control on a gravel shoulder due to bald tires, and crashed into the front of a trooper’s vehicle. A loaded handgun, ammunition and a pocket knife were located at the scene. He is facing charges of felony eluding and numerous traffic violations, including reckless driving, improper use of a median, speeding failing to maintain control and defective tires.
