Cedar Rapids officers justified in standoff shooting, Linn County Attorney rules

CEDAR RAPIDS — Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks ruled Monday that the use of deadly force by two Cedar Rapids police officers in February — during an exchange of gunfire during an 11-hour standoff — was justified.

Christopher Kern, 49, of Grimes, was arrested after the Feb. 19 standoff, which started when police were informed Kern, who had a warrant for his arrest out of Polk County, was staying at the Chelsea Apartments at 525 Valor Way SW in Cedar Rapids.

The warrant was related to the theft of an injured dog from a shelter in Polk County. The dog previously had belonged to Kern, but was turned over to the shelter after police found it with a gunshot wound.

According to the County Attorney’s Office report, Kern had contacted his son before the standoff and told him he planned to die from being shot by officers. Kern shot at Cedar Rapids officers multiple times when they attempted to contact him in the apartment. Officer Grant Hinrichs and Investigator Christopher Christy returned fire.

Neither the officers nor Kern were injured in the shooting.

Kern pleaded guilty last week to three charges of attempted murder of a police officer. Under a plea deal, he will be sentenced to 50 years in prison.

“Criminal charges against these officers are not warranted. Their actions on the evening of February 19, 2025, were taken to protect the community and to save their own lives. Without question, this was clearly a justified shooting by these officers,” the county attorney’s memorandum concludes.

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