Police: Man who shot at Cedar Rapids officers had stolen injured dog

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Grimes man arrested Thursday in Cedar Rapids after an 11-hour standoff with police was wanted in Polk County after stealing an injured dog from an animal shelter, according to Des Moines police.

Christopher Kern, 49, is charged in Linn County with three counts each of attempted murder of a peace officer, possession of firearms by a felon, interference with official acts with a dangerous weapon and assault on persons in certain occupations, two counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, and one count each of use of a dangerous weapon in the commission of a crime, going armed with intent and persons ineligible to carry dangerous weapons.

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According to a Facebook post from the Des Moines Police Department, the dog was turned over to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, a Des Moines animal shelter, on Jan. 31 after police officers there found him suffering from a gunshot wound when they responded to a report of gunfire. Staff at the shelter named the dog Dionysus.

On Tuesday, while Dionysus was awaiting surgery for the gunshot wound, staff arrived at the shelter to find someone had broken in and stolen the dog.

Investigators determined the suspect in the theft was Kerns, who was the dog’s prior owner. A warrant was requested for his arrest, and investigators learned he may be traveling to Cedar Rapids, so they reached out to Cedar Rapids police

Kern also was wanted in Polk County after failing to appear in court for various drug charges, according to court records.

The Cedar Rapids Police Department received information he was staying in The Chelsea, 525 Valor Way SW, in the apartment of Glen Laxamana, and that he had firearms.

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Police could see from outside the building there was a person in the apartment while they made contact with Laxamana in the parking lot Wednesday evening, according to a criminal complaint.

Laxamana, who initially told police that Kern was not in his apartment but later admitted he had been there, was also arrested and charged with interference with official acts and accessory after the fact. He had his first appearance Thursday and was released on his own recognizance.

Officers took a position of cover down the hall of the apartment and tried to contact Kern, but he “obstructed or hindered” their efforts to do so “throughout their interaction with him,” according to the complaint.

After police set up a position of cover, Kern stepped out of the apartment with what appeared to be a rifle and began shooting at them, the complaint states. Officers fired back.

After retreating into the apartment, Kern shot another round at officers by pointing the gun out the doorway and firing.

Later, when police were preparing to introduce chemical munitions into the evacuated building to make Kern come outside, he shot more rounds through the wall of the apartment, toward the officers in the hallway.

Eventually, after several hours, police blew open the door of the apartment and used a robot to enter and look for Kern — who they found hiding under the covers in a bed in a bedroom, the complaint states.

After Kern was taken into custody, officers found three firearms in the apartment: an AR-15, a 9-mm Taurus handgun and a .32-caliber revolver.

Kern had his first appearance in court Friday morning and was being held in the Linn County Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bail. A news release from Cedar Rapids police stated he was taken to a hospital for evaluation before being taken to the jail, but did not say if he was hit by officer gunfire.

No police officers were injured in the standoff. Two officers — whose names have not been released — have been placed on leave while the shooting is being investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations and the Linn County Attorney’s Office.

Dionysus was safely returned to the Des Moines shelter, where he is undergoing further medical treatment, according to a post from the shelter.

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