Ruling: Washington County Deputy justified in use of deadly force

A Washington County Deputy was justified in his use of deadly force against a Wellman man earlier this month.

This was the ruling from the Iowa Attorney General's Office released to the media Friday night after the Iowa Department of Public Safety and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation completed the investigation into the incident on Sept. 13.

Martin F. Hammen, 39, of Wellman was killed outside of his burning home died from a single gunshot wound to the chest fired by Washington County Deputy Kirk Bailey, a 20-year law enforcement veteran.

The letter noted that the conclusion was reached not just by law enforcement statements, but by interviews with Hammen's sister Tanya Clements, his friend Jayme Waterhouse, and nearby neighbors.

Deputies were called to Hammen's residence, 1149 Highway 22, at 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 for a report that he was suicidal. Attempts to locate Hammen at his home at the time were unsuccessful, police said.

Deputies returned to Hammen's home at 1:14 a.m. Sunday for a report of a residential fire. Responding deputies found the home and structures on the property on fire. A man was seen running north from the property across Highway 22. A short time later, Hammen emerged from the tree line carrying a handgun and a propane torch, police said.

Hammen was ordered to drop the handgun, but ignored the deputies' orders. After Hammen allegedly waved the handgun in a threatening manner toward the deputies, Bailey fired from his service rifle and hit Hammen in the upper torso, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.