Authorities say it was a man from Missouri who was shot early Sunday morning by a policeman in Leon. Fifty-five-year-old Patrick Bauer was airlifted to a Des Moines hospital. His condition is unknown.
Special Agent Adam DeCamp of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says Leon Policeman John Thomas was conducting “an investigative stop” of Bauer.
“Officer Thomas was in his vehicle and Mr. Bauer approached Officer Thomas and did spray Officer Thomas in the face with a chemical agent which I guess everyone is used to hearing it called mace,” DeCamp says.
The policeman was in his squad car when he fired “multiple rounds” at Bauer, according to DeCamp.
“Officer Thomas was treated at the scene and released,” DeCamp says. “Mr. Bauer was transported to a Des Moines hospital by air ambulance.”
Bauer’s home address is listed as Marshfield, Missouri, which is about 300 miles south of Leon. Both communities are along the Interstate-35 corridor. The Sunday morning shooting happened on the edge of Leon, near the intersection of two gravel roads.
“Just off the highway,” DeCamp said. “There are some residential homes in the area. There are also some vacant lots, open field areas, a horse pasture k nd of off to the side as well.”
Investigators says there is “no known video recording” of the 3 a.m. incident since the policeman was not wearing a body camera and his vehicle not outfitted with video equipment.