Police: Valentine was suspect in 2016 gun incident that injured defendant Dimione Walker

CEDAR RAPIDS — Police officers testified Wednesday they knew Michael Valentine carried guns and was a suspect in a 2016 firearms investigation that listed his accused killer, Dimione Walker, as a victim, but officers said Valentine was never arrested.

Cedar Rapids police investigator Gabe Hepke said he responded to an apartment complex on Glass Road on Jan. 9, 2016 for a possible narcotics call. He ran into Michael Valentine, who he knew from past encounters. Hepke knew Valentine was involved with firearms and he started following him.

Hepke said Valentine started walking faster and lost him as Hepke ended up in a laundry room of the complex. The officer looked in a trash can in the room because he knew from experience some individuals will ditch guns when in contact with police.

Recommended Reading

Live coverage: Defense begins its case in day three of Dimione Walker murder trial

Hepke did find a semi-automatic gun with an extended magazine in the trash but he didn’t see Valentine by the trash can or see him put a gun in it.

Defense lawyers for Walker, 29, of Coralville, accused of fatally shooting Valentine, 25, of Cedar Rapids, April 10, inside Taboo Nightclub & Lounge, started their case Wednesday after the prosecution rested Tuesday.

The defense may call one or two witnesses Thursday morning and then closing arguments are expected to start. The jury may start deliberations late Thursday or Friday morning.

Walker is charged with first-degree murder, going armed with intent and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Walker is claiming self-defense and his lawyer said in her opening that there is evidence Valentine had a history of shooting Walker. When Walker saw Valentine at Taboo April 10, he knew Valentine could “cause him great harm,” she said.

During the club shooting, 10 others also were injured. Another man, Timothy Rush, 32, of Cedar Rapids, is charged with killing Nicole Owens, 35, and Marvin L. Cox, 31, the same night. Rush’s trial is set for March 28.

During cross examination Wednesday, Hepke said there were three of four buildings in the apartment complex where the gun was found Jan. 6, 2016. Besides encountering Valentine, he also saw two other Black individuals he recognized.

When Hepke encountered Valentine, he didn’t have a gun on him or see him with a gun. Valentine wasn’t arrested for possessing a firearm or another charge, he said.

Investigator Martin Eganhouse, with the crime scene unit, testified about sending the firearm found in the trash, along with shell casings, to the state crime lab for testing.

On cross, Eganhouse said there were three DNA profiles developed from the gun, but none matched Valentine. There was no physical evidence linking Valentine to the gun or cartridges.

Quint Meyerdirk, Walker’s lawyer, asked Eganhouse to name the suspect and victim listed on the firearms report. Eganhouse said the suspect was Valentine and the victims were Walker and another person.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Rena Schulte, on cross, asked when someone is listed as a suspect, does it mean there is evidence of guilt?

Eganhouse said no. They are just associated with the case.

Officer Brandon Boesenberg testified he came into contact with Walker in January 2016 regarding a shooting incident. Walker was in a hospital emergency room for treatment of a gunshot wound, but Boesenberg didn’t recall if there was a suspect in that shooting.

The last witness of the day was Benjamin Keen, a former probation officer who supervised Valentine on probation in 2015-16. Keen was an “intensive probation” officer who handles probationers at higher risk to reoffend.

Keen said Valentine couldn’t follow the rules while on probation and had violations. Keen recommended that Valentine’s probation be revoked because he continued to break the rules.

Meyerdirk asked if in one report he stated Valentine was a “concern to the community” and Keen said yes.

Valentine’s probation was finally revoked after the fifth time Keen asked the court. He was sent to prison in October 2016.

On cross, Keen said he hadn’t had any contact with Valentine since 2016. He didn’t have any knowledge about him at the time he was killed.

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com