Rodney Long
Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety say they believe a man who escaped from the Clarinda Correctional Facility, Rodney Eugene Long , is the man who shot a Taylor County deputy late Sunday and then led law officers on a 40 minute chase.
Officials are urging the public to be cautious and observant. Long is considered armed and dangerous. If you see Long, do not approach him yourself but rather, contact authorities immediately.
Long is described as a white male, 38-years-old with brown hair and brown eyes. He is 5-feet 9- inches tall and weighs 144 pounds. He has tattoos on his wrists.
Long escaped from the minimum custody lodge in the early morning hours of Friday, August 16, 2013. Personal items left in the stolen patrol vehicle indicate that Long is the individual that officials are searching for.
A news release from DPS says Taylor County deputies were dispatched to a “suspicious person” walking along Highway 2 just east of New Market at 11:25 Sunday. As the first deputy was exiting his vehicle to speak with the individual, he was met with gunfire and struck twice. As the deputy was taking cover, the suspect took the patrol vehicle and left the scene. A second Taylor County deputy arrived on scene, picked up the wounded deputy and began to pursue the suspect in the stolen patrol car.
A pursuit ensued for approximately 40 minutes through rural Taylor County. Officers from several different jurisdictions, including Missouri, responded to the area. Gunfire was exchanged between the suspect and officers during the course of the pursuit.
The pursuit ended when the suspect rolled the stolen patrol vehicle several times on a rural Taylor County road. He was able to exit the vehicle and escape on foot. A manhunt, involving at least a dozen different law enforcement agencies from Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska, has been underway since moments after the crash.
The wounded deputy was flown to an Omaha hospital where he remains in stable condition. His injuries are not considered life threatening. His name is not being released at this time.