The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has cleared a Charles City police officer of wrongdoing after he shot and killed a man last weekend. Lieutenant Brandon Franke was not charged with a crime in the shooting death of 56-year-old David King. D.C.I. Agent John Quinn says police were called to a home Saturday night to deal with a suicidal person and the situation escalated drastically once the officer arrived.
King says: "There was a 9-1-1 call that was received by dispatch. An officer was deployed to the residence. Upon entering the residence, he was confronted by the subject and the officer was forced to discharge his weapon." Franke was placed on administrative leave, a move Quinn says is very typical following an incident like this.
King says, "It’s fairly normal with regards to police departments and sheriff’s departments throughout the state of Iowa as a matter of procedure that the officer is placed on administrative leave until he has a chance to discuss the issue with investigators and with administrative staff."
The investigation shows King came towards Franke with a gun in hand, with the officer telling King to put the gun down. Franke used his Taser, but only one of the probes of the Taser struck King. King then raised his revolver at the officer, with Franke firing his gun three times, striking King twice. Franke then called for medical assistance and attempted to provide first aid. Franke is a seven-year veteran of the Charles City Police Department.