An Iowa State trooper shot a motorist in Council Bluffs Tuesday afternoon following a high-speed chase. Authorities say the incident began during rush-hour when a Pottawattamie County deputy spotted a Nissan 350-Z driving erratically in the southwest part of the city.
From there the car headed east on the Veterans Memorial Highway. Officers blocked traffic on the South Expressway, a little less than a mile north of Lake Manawa, but the Nissan weaved its way through traffic at speeds of up to 75 miles an hour, and attempted to thread its way through two eastbound lanes, where it hit at least three vehicles before crossing over toward the westbound lanes, where it became stuck in recently watered sod.
A handful of police officers surrounded the car, screaming for the driver to stop, but he refused and continued to rev the engine and spin the tires. Captain Shane Antle with the Iowa State Patrol, says Trooper Tim Sieleman — standing about four feet from the driver’s side of the Nissan — fired into the vehicle after the driver — identified as 31-year-old Matthew Loth, of Plattsmouth, Nebraska — refused to turn off his car and turned it toward the trooper in a "threatening manner."
Loth was shot twice. He was treated at an Omaha Hospital before being turned over to Nebraska authorities. Loth was expected to be extradited to Iowa later today. Pottawattamie County Attorney Matt Wilber says a warrant was issued for Loth on suspicion of attempted murder, because he allegedly tried to run over county sheriff’s deputy, Corporal Aaron Pattee.
Officers also dragged a passenger in the Nissan, Carolyn Ferrel of Council Bluffs, out of the car before placing her under arrest.