The Story County Attorney says an Ames Police officer was justified in the shooting of a young man following a chase that ended on the Iowa State University campus. Nineteen-year-old Tyler Comstock of Boone was killed Monday. At a news conference today, video from a police officer’s dashboard camera was played.
The video shows Comstock driving a truck and trailer at high speeds, running through a stop light, traveling the wrong way on a one-way street, driving on sidewalks on the ISU campus, and ramming police cars. Ames Police Commander Geoff Huff spoke briefly before playing the video. “While we do believe the dash-cam videos speak for themselves, you will see the pickup truck operated by the suspect is driving with a willful and wanton disregard for the safety of every citizen in the area,” Huff said.
In contrast, Huff said police patrol cars “were operated with precision and care.” Huff noted the officers reduced speeds at intersections and near other vehicles and also backed off the suspect when it was suggested by a supervising officer. “They continued with lights and sirens as a warning to other bystanders,” Huff said.
Officer Adam McPherson fired the shots that killed Comstock. Iowa DCI Special Agent in Charge Michael Motsinger said the investigation into the case has been completed. “County Attorney Stephen Holmes concluded that Officer McPherson acted reasonably, under very difficult circumstances, and Officer McPherson’s use of deadly force was justified,” Motsinger said.
In his report, Holmes also states that it was “only by sheer luck that no one else was seriously injured or killed by Comstock.” Officers started the pursuit after Comstock’s father called police to say his son had stolen the pickup and trailer.
See the news conference here: www.cityofames.org/index.aspx?page=1766