A man who fired shots at a Polk County Sheriff’s deputy barricaded himself inside a Des Moines motel on Tuesday, leading to a four-hour standoff before being taken into custody. The incident unfolded when a deputy stopped a vehicle on NE 14th Street, and one of the occupants got out and fired several shots at the deputy before retreating into the Budget Inn & Suites. The motel was surrounded by dozens of law enforcement officers, causing a closure of the nearby highway. As a precaution, schools in the Saydel Community School District, located in close proximity to the motel, went on lockdown.
Despite the intense situation, the standoff came to a peaceful end without any injuries. The spokesperson for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Capt. Ryan Evans, expressed relief and satisfaction with the resolution. He emphasized the seriousness of the suspect’s actions, as firing shots at a uniformed police officer in a heavily populated area is a significant threat. During the incident, Saydel schools remained under lockdown, causing some students to be locked out of the buildings. It was not until the suspect was taken into custody that normal school operations resumed, although after-school practices and activities were canceled, and all campuses closed after dismissal.
Law enforcement authorities dealt with the barricaded suspect at the Des Moines motel in the manner they hoped for – a peaceful resolution with no injuries. Capt. Ryan Evans stressed the significance of ensuring public safety in a heavily populated area when faced with someone as brazen as the suspect who fired shots at a uniformed officer. The incident caused the closure of NE 14th Street/Highway 69 for several hours, disrupting traffic in the area. The Saydel Community School District, located near the motel, went into lockdown as a precaution. Although the lockdown caused some students to be locked out, normal school business resumed after the suspect was taken into custody. However, after-school practices and activities were canceled for the day, and all campuses closed following regular dismissal.