Grimes man faces 50 years for trying to kill 3 Cedar Rapids police officers during standoff

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Grimes man charged with trying to kill three Cedar Rapids police officers during a standoff at The Chelsea Apartments in February pleaded to three charges Friday and faces 50 years in prison.

Christopher Mark Kern, 49, pleaded to three charges of attempted murder of a police officer. He admitted, during the hearing, that on Feb. 19 he intentionally and without justification tried to cause the death of two officers, “W.W.” and “G.H.,” and an investigator, “C.C.,” as they are referenced in court documents and during the hearing.

None of the officers were injured during the shooting and neither was Kern.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Jordan Schier, during the hearing, said the plea agreement is for Kern to be sentenced to 25 years on each charge but one of those will run concurrently with the other two for a total of 50 years to serve, which is a life sentence based on his age.

Because these crimes were against police officers, Kern must serve 100 percent of the sentence before being eligible for parole.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Jason Besler said the defense has requested sentencing as soon as possible. Kern’s sentencing will be set in the next two weeks.

Kern waived his right to a presentencing report, which is typically conducted before a defendant is sentenced, but the report can’t be completed this month.

Kern’s remaining charges will be dismissed at sentencing. He was originally also charged with three counts of assault on persons in certain occupations, possession of firearm by a felon, and interference with official acts/armed with firearm; two counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon; and one count each of going armed with intent, person ineligible to carry dangerous weapon and use of a dangerous weapon in commission of a crime.

Schier, following the hearing, told The Gazette the officers haven’t been identified at this time because the officer involved shooting investigation report hasn’t been completed yet.

Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks said it should be released to him by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation early next week for his review.

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What happened during the standoff?

According to criminal complaints, police officers received information Feb. 19, that Kern had warrants for his arrest in Polk County and was staying at The Chelsea Apartments at 525 Valor Way SW, which is behind the police department.

He was staying with a tenant, Glen Alba Laxamana, 45, but Laxamana initially told police Kern wasn’t there.

Laxamana was picked up from his workplace by officers and taken to the Cedar Rapids Police Department, where he admitted Kern was inside with firearms, narcotics and body armor, according to police.

A standoff started after Kern fired at the officers when they attempted to contact Kern as they were getting a search warrant to enter the apartment, just after 7 p.m. Officers could see the man inside the apartment from outside the building.

The officers told Kern they were in the hallway while taking cover to protect themselves. At some point, Kern stepped out of the apartment with a rifle and started shooting at them. The officers returned fire and Kern fired more rounds by pointing the gun out of the door and firing toward them.

Kern, still inside the apartment, then fired shots into the interior wall, in an attempt to shoot the officers in the hallway.

Over the next several hours, Kern continued to refuse officers’ negotiation efforts to get him to come out of the apartment.

Ultimately, the door was blown open and a robot was used to enter the apartment. The robot found Kern, hiding under bed covers in the bedroom, and he was arrested.

Officers found three firearms — an AR-15 rifle used by Kern during the standoff, a 9 mm Taurus handgun, and a .32 caliber revolver — near him in the apartment.

Kern, during a police interview, admitted he knew officers were in the apartment building and he was firing at them.

Previous and subsequent charges

Kern previously was convicted of willful injury in Polk County in 2000 and was prohibited from possessing firearms. He has pending drug and drug-related charges in Polk from 2024.

Kern also has pending separate charges in Linn County for trying to escape Linn County Sheriff’s deputies who were taking him to the dentist on March 25. He also assaulted the two deputies. He is charged with escape from custody, a Class D felony, and assault on person in certain occupation — bodily injury and interference with official acts — bodily injury, both aggravated misdemeanors.

Laxamana also was charged with accessory after the fact, an aggravated misdemeanor, and interference with official acts, a simple misdemeanor. He will be arraigned Monday.

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