An officer was shot in Iowa yesterday, prompting a manhunt that led to the arrest of the suspect, officials have said.
The Algona police officer was shot on the 1100 block of Minnesota Street at approximately 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Iowa State Patrol said in a statement.
Local resident Kyle Lou Ricke, 43, was later identified as the suspect.
Ricke initially avoided arrest, leading to Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office to issue a lockdown order for residents of Algona.
Just before midnight, the man was taken in to custody.
The Algona police officer was shot on the 1100 block of Minnesota Street at approximately 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Iowa State Patrol said in a statement. Local resident Kyle Lou Ricke, 43, was later identified as the suspect
Meanwhile, the condition of the officer – named as Kevin Kram – is unknown.
State police cancelled the blue alert, which was issue to alert law enforcement when a suspect is on the loose and presents a threat to other police officers. The blue alert signals ‘the death or serious injury of a peace officer in the line of duty’.
The Kossuth County Sheriff’s office also gave ‘all clear’ overnight.
According to local reports, Ricke had been facing legal problems in the weeks leading to the shooting.
Legal records show he was in court hours before the shooting, and was charged with third degree harassment on August 28.
KCCI Des Moines reported that Ricke’s ex-girlfriend told police he had sent her dozens of text messages and tried calling her several times within a two-hour time span, with texts seen by officers showing he called her names and ‘bantered her’.
An officer said he advised the man not to contact the woman or he would be charged with harassment.
The condition of the officer – named as Kevin Kram (pictured) – is unknown
Despite this, the woman contacted police four days later (August 27) and said Ricke had continued to send her text messages and emails.
The next day, he admitted to contacting the woman, and was arrested and charged.
On August 29, Ricke bonded out of Kossuth County Jail, before appearing in court on Wednesday morning, hours before the officer-involved shooting.
He trial date had been set for November 3.