Waterloo resident shot by police sues city, officers

WATERLOO - A Waterloo man shot by police there in April has filed a federal lawsuit against the city and several police officers, arguing he was unlawfully shot.

According to a news release from Jovan Webb's Chicago-based attorney, Mark Loevy-Reyes, Waterloo police responded to a fight at the New World Bar and Grill, 504 Riehl St., on April 5. The release states Webb and a friend were at the bar, but were not involved in the altercation.

Loevy-Reyes said his client watched the fight, which ended before officers arrived. When the fight ended, Webb got into his car to leave as well, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit states a police officer in civilian clothes knocked on Webb's window. The lawsuit further claims Webb, who is black, was singled out because of his race. Rather than stop, Webb backed out of his parking spot to get away from the man knocking on his window.

Webb claims in the lawsuit the man chased him as he pulled away. The officer then fired five shots into Webb's car, hitting him twice in the arm, twice in the abdomen and one in the chest. He still has two rounds in his body that cannot be surgically removed, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit says Webb drove himself to the hospital and was met there by Waterloo police officers who handcuffed him upon arrival. The news release said medical personnel had to request the officers remove the handcuffs so Webb could receive treatment.

Webb was never arrested in relation to the incident, according to the news release.

Waterloo Police Chief Dan Trelka told KCRG-TV9 that the department has not seen all of the reports from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, which is investigating the shooting, and that prosecutors have not reviewed the case.

'All of the facts will ultimately be made public,” Trelka said.