Man charges officer, police respond with Taser

CEDAR RAPIDS – Police shot a Cedar Rapids man with a Taser gun after they said he charged toward them Sunday morning when he became upset.

Justin D. Simpson, 29, was charged with assault on a peace officer, interference with official acts and public intoxication after the incident around 2 a.m. Sunday in the parking lot of Cedar Valley Apartments, 3000 J St. SW. It was Simpson who originally called police to report a vehicle that had cut him off in the parking lot, but after speaking to Simpson and the other driver, they told Simpson no charges would be filed.

Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said Simpson charged the officer after he was told “numerous times to stand back away.”

Simpson continued to struggle with officers until the Taser was deployed, Hamblin said. He was transported to St. Luke's Hospital for an evaluation before he was taken to the Linn County Jail.