No charges in officer-involved shooting of former candidate for Johnson County Supervisors

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said no charges will be filed against a Van Buren County deputy who shot and killed a man last week.

Authorities said Deputy Jon Tharp fired one shot that killed 59-year-old Robert "Michael" Dooley of Brighton on Oct. 16. Dooley, a former candidate for the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, was shot on Iowa Highway 2 near Cantril. Deputies were investigating reports of a man walking along the highway and making obscene hand gestures while wearing a military uniform and armed with a rifle.

The agency said deputies ordered Dooley to drop the rifle, but he raised it toward the deputies instead, and Tharp shot him. The agency said Dooley's weapon was an air rifle that looked like a Winchester lever action rifle.

The DCI said Monday that Tharp's actions were justified and no charges will be filed.

Dooley, who was about 50 miles from his residence, appeared to be walking away from a disabled vehicle, according to a news release issued Monday.

Dooley participated in a civil war reenactment in 2010 as a Confederate soldier, and also was photographed at a parade and political debate that year dressed as a soldier on his horse, according to Gazette archives.

DCI Special Agent Jeff Uhlmeyer said Dooley was dressed in his Civil War-era uniform when deputies located him Oct. 16.