Capitol Notebook: Gov. Kim Reynolds to lead trade mission to India

Gov. Kim Reynolds will lead a trade mission in September to India in September, her office announced Thursday.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and a group of agriculture and business leaders will join Reynolds to strengthen the trade and business relationship between Iowa and India, her office said. The trip is organized by the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Service.

“India is the world’s largest democracy and, over the last two decades, it has transformed its economy, making it the fifth largest in the world,” Reynolds said in a statement. “With India’s tremendous growth and massive consumer market, this trade mission is an excellent opportunity to promote Iowa as an investment destination for Indian companies — particularly those in advanced manufacturing, biotech, finance, and insurance — and a strong trade partner in agricultural exports.”

The trade mission will take place Sept. 13-22. The itinerary still is being planned.

Naig said in a statement the visit would be an opportunity to strengthen Iowa’s agricultural relationship with India, which has a growing need that Naig said can be met by Iowa producers.

“India already has a growing appetite for ethanol and livestock feed, and recently opened the door for Iowa pork exports, so this connection offers a significant upside for Iowa,” Naig said. “I am excited to embark on this trade mission with Gov. Reynolds and our delegation of Iowans to reinforce existing relationships and forge new friendships that will create larger and more diverse markets for Iowa products.”

Fort Dodge officers cleared in fatal shooting

The Iowa Attorney General’s Office has concluded that Fort Dodge police officers were legally justified in shooting and killing man in March.

According to a report from Attorney General Brenna Bird’s office, police responded to a 911 call to a Fort Dodge home after receiving a report that 24-year-old Tyler Stansberry was acting violently and having a mental health episode.

Stansberry was on the autism spectrum and had schizophrenia, PTSD and social anxiety, according to the report. He had a history of aggressive behavior and had refused to visit doctors or take his prescribed medication, the report says.

The day before police fatally shot Stansberry, Stansberry’s mother had received a court order involuntarily committing him because of a worsening mental condition. That order had not been shared with law enforcement, the report says.

Stansberry’s brother called 911 on March 16 to report he was having a mental health crisis. The brother said Stansberry was “freaking out,” and he had assaulted him and harmed a dog in the house.

Officers searched the house and directed Stansberry’s brother to ask him to come from the basement to the main level of the house. After being told Stansberry was in the basement armed with a knife, four officers — two carrying revolvers, one carrying a stun gun and another carrying a shotgun loaded with a beanbag round — entered the home again.

When the officers entered the basement after calling Stansberry’s name, the report says, Stansberry appeared from another room and ran at the officers, holding two knives. All but one officer, who remained on the stairs, fired their weapons at Stansberry as he approached them.

Stansberry was hit by the two bullets, the stun gun and the beanbag round, the report said. Officer Matthew English fired the fatal shots. Stansberry was taken to a hospital where he later died of his injuries.

Bird’s office determined English and the other officers were legally justified. The report says they attempted to de-escalate the situation by attempting to speak to Stansberry through a family member, and the immediate threat of violence warranted the use of force.

“Particularly given the short time they had to react to Stansberry’s sudden, imminent threat of deadly violence, the officers used the force necessary to prevent death or serious injury to themselves and others in the area,” the report says.