Sheriff: Linn County inmate attacks deputies after dentist visit

CEDAR RAPIDS -- A Grimes man being held in the Linn County Jail after an 11-hour standoff with police in February over a stolen dog attempted to escape custody Tuesday by attacking the deputies who were transporting him and another inmate to a dentist appointment, according to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.

Christopher Kern, 49, was arrested Feb. 20 and charged with three counts each of attempted murder of a peace officer, possession of firearms by a felon, interference with official acts with a dangerous weapon and assault on persons in certain occupations, two counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, and one count each of use of a dangerous weapon in the commission of a crime, going armed with intent and persons ineligible to carry dangerous weapons.

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According to Cedar Rapids police, he was wanted in Polk County after he stole an injured dog from an animal shelter. Kern previously had owned the dog, but it was surrendered to the shelter after police responded to a shots-fired call and found the animal suffering from a gunshot wound. Staff at the shelter named the dog Dionysus.

Des Moines investigators determined Kern had stolen the dog, and learned he might be traveling to Cedar Rapids. They contacted the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and officers found the apartment where Kern was staying. They attempted to contact him, but he barricaded himself in the apartment and shot at police multiple times, police said. After an overnight standoff, he was taken into custody and charged.

He has been held in the Linn County Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bail. On March 14, he filed a notice of his intent to plead guilty and a plea hearing was scheduled for April 4.

About 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, two Linn County sheriff’s deputies were escorting Kern and another inmate out of a dental office in northeast Cedar Rapids after the dental procedures were done. Kern attacked one of the deputies, knocking him to the ground, and a struggle broke out between him and both deputies, according to a news release.

The deputies were assisted by a bystander and by additional sheriff’s deputies and officers from the Cedar Rapids and Hiawatha police departments who responded to a call for assistance, the news release states.

Kern was taken back to the jail and now charged with assault on persons in certain occupations with injury, interference with official acts with injury and attempted escape, according to the news release.

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