A police investigation is underway at a southern Iowa school. School has been cancelled today in Seymour, which is in Wayne County. Gary Drummond, Seymour’s superintendent, says the front of the school “is barricaded off.”
The incident, which happened last night, did not involve any faculty, staff or students. “I’m not sure what has happened here,” Drummond said in a brief telephone interview early this morning with Radio Iowa. He referred questions to the Iowa Department of Public Safety.
At 7:50 a.m., the Department of Public Safety issued the following information:
Seymour, IOWA — The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is investigating a shooting incident involving an Iowa State Trooper (ISP) in Seymour, Iowa following a vehicle pursuit which occurred at 11:30 p.m., October 14, 2009.
The pursuit began in Centerville, Iowa by the Centerville Police Department for suspicion of drunk driving. The pursuit continued from Centerville to Seymour on County Road J46. A Seymour City officer deployed ‘Stop Sticks’ and the front left tire of the pursued vehicle struck the sticks east of Seymour, Iowa. Within the city limits of Seymour, a State Trooper’s patrol vehicle made contact with the pursued vehicle in an attempt to stop the pursuit. The suspect vehicle attempted to escape the scene and struck the State Troopers vehicle. The Trooper fired his service weapon into the vehicle, ending the pursuit. This incident ended on Seymour Community School property. The driver of the vehicle was transported to a Des Moines area hospital and his condition is unknown.
Due to the ongoing investigation, classes were cancelled by the Seymour Community School District Superintendent.
The Trooper has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. In addition to the Iowa State Patrol, the Centerville Police Department, Seymour Police Department, Corydon Police Department, Appanoose County Sheriff Office, and Wayne County Sheriff’s Office were involved in the incident.