Cedar Rapids man arrested after hourslong standoff with police

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man was arrested Wednesday after a standoff with police that started when officers responded to reports of a violent domestic situation.

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Jeffrey Jackson Scherrer, 49, faces charges of two counts of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, two counts of first-degree harassment and one count each of attempt to disarm a peace officer of a dangerous weapon, child endangerment, domestic abuse assault and interference with official acts.

According to a criminal complaint, Cedar Rapids police were called Wednesday to the 2400 block of C Avenue NE after receiving multiple reports of an argument between Scherrer and the mother of his 1-year-old child, in which he assaulted the woman by pushing and shoving her.

Two of the callers reported hearing Scherrer say he was going to throw a baby, the complaint said. He threw the 1-year-old onto a bed and the child fell off, resulting in a visible injury on the child’s forehead.

Officers arrived and began speaking with the woman outside the home. Scherrer came outside and beckoned the officers inside, saying they would have to fight him and shoot him, the complaint said.

When police approached the house to speak to Scherrer, he displayed a gun and pulled the trigger three times. Officers weren’t sure if it was a toy or if it was unloaded, so they retreated and called for backup, according to the complaint.

A perimeter was set up around the house while police attempted to negotiate with Scherrer. The complaint doesn’t state how long the standoff lasted, only that it was “for hours.”

Scherrer eventually came out onto the porch where he began speaking with an officer. Scherrer tried to run back inside, but was stopped by the officer and there was a struggle, the complaint states. Eventually the officer used a stun gun on Scherrer, who attempted to take it away before other officers stepped in and detained Scherrer.

Scherrer had his first appearance in court Thursday and was being held on $25,000 bail.

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