Trooper identified in Washington County officer-involved shooting

WASHINGTON COUNTY - The Iowa Department of Public Safety has identified the trooper involved in a shooting earlier this month.

DPS said Jewel O'Rear, a 15-year veteran of the department who has been a state trooper for seven years, fired a single shot into the driver's side tire of a vehicle involved in a pursuit on October 1. Authorities said on Tuesday that O'Rear has been interviewed by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the case will be forwarded to the Iowa Attorney General's Office for review.

The shooting came at the conclusion of a chase that began on Interstate 380 after the State Patrol was notified of a suspicious vehicle believed to be involved in retail thefts in the Cedar Rapids area. A trooper located the suspect vehicle - a Dodge Charger - driving southbound on Interstate 380 in Johnson County and a chase ensued when the driver, later identified as 27-year-old Tiffany R. Reed, refused to pull over.

The chase continued to the Kalona/Lone Tree exit off Highway 218 in Washington County. Authorities said Reed, who had two other people in the vehicle with her, pulled into a gas station and hit a Johnson County Sheriff's Office squad car. At that time, O'Rear fired a single shot at the vehicle.

All three suspects were taken into custody. Reed was charged with interference with official acts and two warrants for second-degree theft. Her passengers, 30-year-old LaFonda Davis and 22-year-old Tia Reed, were each charged with interference with official acts, according to DPS. All three women are from St. Louis.

O'Rear remains on duty for the Iowa State Patrol.