Iowa Amber Alert suspect in custody after standoff

REMSEN — Law enforcement authorities charged a 34-year-old Iowa man with one count of first-degree kidnapping following a Plymouth County standoff that was preceded Tuesday by a multicounty high-speed chase and a statewide Amber Alert.

Brandon Duong was arrested after an estimated two-and-a-half-hour standoff that took place between Remsen and Marcus in Northwest Iowa, according to deputies.

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At 3:40 p.m., a statewide Amber Alert was issued out of Greene County for a black Toyota Tacoma transporting Bryson Duong, the son of Brandon Duong.

"Brandon Duong, age 34, took his seven-year-old biological son, Bryson Duong, from Greene Elementary School in Jefferson, Iowa. A court order restricting Brandon Duong from having custody had been issued in December 2023," the Iowa Department of Public Safety said in a statement.

A 2015 black Toyota Tacoma was spotted by the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office about 4:40 p.m. south of the Correctionville and Cushing area, according to the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office. A chase through Woodbury, Plymouth and Cherokee counties exceeded speeds of 100 mph.

"Pursuing officers at one point had lost contact with the suspect vehicle but where able to relocate the vehicle near Highway 3 and Sunset Ave., east of Remsen in Plymouth County," the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office said. "During the pursuit it was learned that the suspect Brandon Duong was possibly armed with a long rifle. The vehicle continued a short distance after being relocated and crashed, at which time the driver exited the vehicle with Bryson and proceeded on foot into a field armed with a rifle."

Police scanner traffic said the suspect was holding a child on his shoulders. Residents were urged to evacuate. Negotiators were on site and SWAT vehicles were utilized. The Iowa State Patrol deployed an armored vehicle about 7:17 p.m. in an attempt to corral the suspect.

After lengthy negotiations during the standoff, police secured the weapon and moved the child away from the suspect at about 8 p.m. The suspect was taken into custody.

"Brandon has been charged with one count of Kidnapping in the First Degree and will be transferred to the Greene County Jail," the Iowa Department of Public Safety said in a statement. "The Jefferson Police Department and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation will continue their investigation to further understand the circumstances that necessitated the issuance of the Amber Alert."