Sheriff’s Office identifies man shot while exchanging gunfire with officers in Hiawatha

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office has identified a man shot by officers this week during an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement. He is Samuel Reese III, 32, of Center Point, Alabama.

According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, Reese shot at Linn County officers during a car chase Wednesday morning on I-380. The pursuit began around 9:30 a.m. when police attempted to stop Reese’s vehicle, which was identified as having been involved in a car jacking that morning in Cedar Falls.

Reese, the driver and only occupant of the vehicle, leaned out the window while driving and shot at officers with a rifle. He later lost control of the vehicle and crashed near the intersection of I-380 and Tower Terrace Road, where he fled into a nearby field before turning and firing again at pursuing officers, the release states.

Officers returned fire, and Reese was hit, according to the release. He was taken to University of Iowa Health Care-Medical Center. An email sent by the Sheriff’s Office Thursday night states Reese still is in critical condition, and charges against him are pending.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident, as is the norm with officer-involved shootings. Law enforcement officers directly involved in the shooting have been placed on critical incident leave in the meantime.

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