Guard soldier arrested on weapons intimidation charge

An Iowa National Guard soldier from Waterloo faces a felony charge of intimidation with a weapon after being accused of pointing a handgun at soldiers and others at a party and firing shots in the air.

Black Hawk County authorities said the incident happened just before midnight Monday at 403 First St. in Washburn, just south of Waterloo.

Deputies arrested Matthew K. Suckow, 26, of Waterloo a short time after the incident and charged him with intimidation with a weapon and possession of a controlled substance. Suckow made an initial appearance in Black Hawk County District Court Tuesday morning and was released from jail on a $10,000 bond.

A call to the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office mentioned someone threatening people at a party and a victim hit by a vehicle. Deputies found Zachary Clabby, 25, at the scene with a minor hand injury. Witnesses said Clabby, who knows the suspect, had tried to stop Suckow from leaving the area before deputies arrived. Clabby's hand was hit by a vehicle.

Adam Nielsen and his wife, Amber, were hosting the party for a few people they knew. Adam Nielsen said Suckow argued with a friend during the evening and even tried to choke him. Nielsen said the suspect left the party for a short time and then returned with a .45 caliber handgun.

“I remember him pointing it in the air. I remember him pointing it at me. Then I started to black out, have anxiety attacks and freak out,” Adam Nielsen said.

Nielsen had just returned from Afghanistan several weeks ago after his deployment with an Iowa National Guard unit. He was unwinding with some soldiers from his unit Monday at his home. Nielsen said Suckow was a friend of a friend who was invited to the party. Suckow had served with a different Guard unit in Iraq from 2005 to 2007.

Nielsen's wife, Amber, said, “I don't know what his intentions were. I just saw the gun pointed at my husband and I was taken into the garage so I didn't see what happened. And then, I heard a gunshot and thought he shot my husband.”

Authorities said Suckow shot in the air and put two holes in a backyard awning at the Nielsen residence. No one was hurt. Officials with the Iowa National Guard said returning soldiers, and families, are counseled about stress symptoms and urged to seek help at the first sign of trouble.

Guard Chaplain Gary Selof said, “Things are going to start coming up in their lives they're not dealing with so the key is if they have symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) we want to get them help as soon as possible.”

Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson said deputies tried to take Suckow to a hospital for a mental evaluation first instead of jail. But the hospital refused to take custody.

A preliminary hearing on the charges is now set for Aug. 12. Sheriff Thompson said Suckow was the holder of a valid non-professional weapons permit. That permit was revoked pending the outcome of the case.