STATEMENT OF
MUSCATINE COUNTY ATTORNEY ALAN R. OSTERGREN AND MUSCATINE COUNTY SHERIFF C.J.
RYAN INTO
INCIDENT ON JANUARY
15, 2016
On January 15, 2016, there was an officer-involved shooting
in Muscatine, Iowa involving a Muscatine County Sheriff’s Deputy and a
Muscatine Police Department officer. The Iowa Division of Criminal
Investigation has led an investigation into the incident.
The DCI investigation shows that Timothy Seefeldt was the
operator of a 2008 Hummer H3 which had been stolen earlier that evening in
Muscatine. Dep. Eddie Cardenas located the H3 and attempted to effect a traffic
stop. He was assisted by Muscatine Police Department Off. Anthony Arnaman.
Seefeldt attempted to elude the law enforcement vehicles but the pursuit ended
quickly when Seefeldt drove into the parking lot of a motel which was a dead
end.
Despite being stopped, Seefeldt refused to obey Dep. Cardenas’s
commands. He abruptly placed the H3 in reverse and backed up. He struck Dep.
Cardenas’s squad car with the front door of the H3. Dep. Cardenas perceived
this action as threatening – both to himself and to Off. Arnaman. Dep. Cardenas
fired his duty weapon in response to the threat. Seefeldt then struck four
parked cars in the motel parking lot before stopping again. Dep. Cardenas fired
his duty weapon again when he believed that Seefeldt was placing the vehicle in
drive in order to move forward at him.
Seefeldt sustained a non-life threatening gunshot wound to
the upper torso as a result of Dep. Cardenas’s actions. He surrendered to Dep.
Cardenas and Off. Arnaman. He was later transported to Trinity
Hospital-Muscatine and then to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He
left the UIHC against medical advice.
County Attorney Ostergren stated “I have considered the
application of Iowa law to the actions of Dep. Cardenas. A person is permitted
to use force, including deadly force, to prevent or resist an imminent threat
of death or injury to himself or to another. Dep. Cardenas’s actions were
reasonable based upon the threat presented by Seefeldt’s actions. I therefore
find that the shooting of Seefeldt by Dep. Cardenas was lawful.
“I would like to emphasize that I do not merely find Dep.
Cardenas’s actions to meet the minimum standards imposed by the law. In my view
he acted bravely during this incident. He was motivated primarily by a desire
to protect a fellow officer and the public in general. His actions and demeanor
during this incident were in the finest traditions of Iowa law enforcement.”
Sheriff C.J. Ryan stated “I have reviewed Dep. Cardenas’s
actions in regard to departmental policy on the use of force. I find that Dep.
Cardenas’s actions were in compliance with all applicable policies. I share the
view that Dep. Cardenas acted bravely during this incident. A motor vehicle can
be just as dangerous as a gun or knife. Dep. Cardenas acted decisively to end
the threat. I am proud of him.”
Criminal charges against Seefeldt are pending.
