Deputy’s actions in North English officer-involved shooting ruled justified

NORTH ENGLISH - The actions of a deputy in the officer-involved shooting death of a North English man have been ruled justified by the Iowa County Attorney's Office.

Robin L. Blaylock, 53, of 108 S. Walnut St. was killed last month as a result of a gunshot wound inflicted on him by Iowa County deputy Blake Heller, who also serves part-time as a police officer for Williamsburg and Marengo, according to a news release sent Tuesday by the Iowa County Attorney's Office.

On the evening of June 10, Williamsburg and Marengo police and the Iowa County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a domestic disturbance involving a man with a gun in the 100 block of South Walnut Street in North English.

Blaylock pointed his firearm twice at officers and refused to obey officers' orders, according to the release.

'The officers could have on more than one occasion ... feared for their own safety or the safety of the other officers,” the release states.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the officer-involved shooting, and the Iowa County Attorney's Office made the determination based on witness statements, reports and recordings regarding the incident.

'As a result, the Iowa County Attorney's Office has made the determination that the shooting of Robin Blaylock, while being a homicide, was a justified homicide on the part of Officer Blake Heller,” the release states.

l Comments: (319) 368-8536; michaela.ramm@thegazette.com