DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation released additional information Monday about the officer-involved shooting early Sunday in Leon, Iowa.
Leon Police Department Officer John Thomas stopped a vehicle at 3:08 a.m. Sunday in the 300 block of N.W. Third Street in Leon. The vehicle was driven by Patrick Bauer, 55, of Marshfield, Mo.
According to the DCI statement, during the traffic stop, Bauer approached Thomas, “who was seated in his marked police vehicle,” and “sprayed Officer Thomas with a chemical agent, which is commonly referred to as ‘mace.’ After being sprayed, Officer Thomas fired multiple rounds from his handgun,” striking Bauer.
Bauer was given medical attention at the scene and later “airlifted to a Des Moines hospital, where his condition is currently unknown,” the DCI said.
“There is no known video recording of this incident,” the DCI statement said. “Officer Thomas was not wearing a body camera, and his vehicle was not outfitted with a video camera.”
Thomas has been placed on paid administrative leave. The DCI said no additional information will be released concerning the investigation.
Leon is a town of about 2,000 located in south-central Iowa. Marshfield, Mo., is a town of about 6,600 located in southwest Missouri.
