An Ottumwa man who was shot following a cross-county pursuit and confrontation with law enforcement was formally charged while the trooper who shot him was cleared by the Davis County Attorney.
35-year-old Charles Hall has been charged with attempted murder of a peace officer, eluding, and trespass.
Officials from the Ottumwa Police Department and the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office attempted to make contact with Hall, who was wanted for first-degree robbery on December 7th.
Court records say Hall evaded arrest by slamming his car into a parked law enforcement vehicle and driving off. Hall avoided multiple law enforcement agencies in a chase that spanned Wapello, Monroe, and Davis Counties.
The pursuit came to an end when Hall crashed his vehicle in a ditch near Blakesburg.
According to video evidence, Davis County Attorney Rick Lynch says Iowa State Patrol Trooper Jeremy Cole exited his vehicle and approached the crashed car with his service weapon drawn.
Lynch says Hall exited the wrecked car and was holding a firearm with his finger on the trigger pointed at Cole.
Trooper Cole shot Hall and after determining Hall was no longer a threat secured him in handcuffs and radioed for assistance. Hall was eventually airlifted to a hospital in Des Moines.
Lynch made the determination based on video evidence that Cole’s use of force was “objectively reasonable” under the circumstances to protect his own life and therefore legally justified under Iowa law. Lynch says Cole will not face any charges relating to the incident.
Hall is currently in the Davis County Jail. His bond has been set at $250,000.
