A Cedar Falls man is in critical condition in Minnesota hospital after being shot by a state trooper following a chase that ended up near Charles City. Iowa State Patrol spokesman Jim Saunders says the Bremer County Sheriff’s office got a report of a Dodge Durango SUV hitting a bridge near Janesville around 7:30. Saunders says reports continued to come in that the person was driving erratically headed north on Highway 218.
Saunders says at 7:50 A.M. Trooper Mark Domino was head south and spotted the Durango just north of Nashua and that the vehicle is all over the road. Trooper Domino attempts to initiate a traffic stop on the Durango, however the driver fails to stop. Saunders says the trooper then tried to stop the vehicle.
He says both the trooper’s car and the SUV ended up in the median. Saunders says the troopers car got stuck in the median, but the SUV got free and as the trooper got out of his car, the Durango drove at the trooper who was now standing on the highway. Saunders says trooper Domino then fired his gun, striking the driver. Saunders says the driver stopped after being hit.
The driver of the Durango is identified as 29-year-old Lawrence William Filippo of Cedar Falls. Filippo was airlifted to a hospital in Rochester, Minnesota where he is listed in critical condition. Saunders says 46-year-old trooper Mark Domino is assigned to the ISP District Office in Mason City and is a 25 year veteran of the Iowa State Patrol. Trooper Domino was taken to a local hospital where he has been admitted for undisclosed injuries, but the injuries are believed to be minor.
Saunders says they don’t know why Filippo was driving erratically. He says that’s something they hope to determine in the investigation. Saunders says charges are pending the outcome of the investigation.
Saunders says the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation will complete their investigation and will likely turn the information over to the Floyd County Attorney, who will decided what charges to file. Saunders says the camera in the trooper’s car was not working at the time of the shooting.