Man linked to homicide investigation arrested after clash with police at Winterset church
A man was taken into custody after a police chase and a standoff on Sunday morning. West Des Moines police said officers located the vehicle of a man who was a person of interest in a homicide investigation in the Omaha, Nebraska area. The man has been identified as 27-year-old Gage Walter. West Des Moines police say they tried to arrest Walter this morning before he took off. According to the police, Walter was driving a stolen vehicle. The Omaha World Herald reported that the vehicle was stolen from a detective investigating the homicide. Officers used arresting sticks and the vehicle stopped at the intersection of Highway 92 and 8th Avenue North in Winterset, Iowa, authorities said. Police said the chase lasted about 45 minutes. Police say Walter then jumped out of the car and barricaded himself inside St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. No church parishioners were inside the building at the time, and Walter was alone in the church. Deputy Director at the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations. After negotiations with the Iowa State Patrol and West Des Moines Police SWAT teams, Walter surrendered without incident. “The negotiators did a great job and brought this matter to a peaceful end. They can’t be commended enough for that, they did a great job,” said Winterset Police Chief Ken Burk. for breaking into the church. Raw video: Arrest made in Winterset (video courtesy of Michael Hague) mad to see something like this happen. But what was great was seeing how fast our first responders were and how amazing their work was. They were there right away and they were all over the situation to make sure no one else got hurt,” neighbor Keegan Jensen said. Jensen said he was on his way to the Catholic Church right next to St. Paul’s when he saw all the action. It scared him and his parents. “I just saw cops everywhere and I was extremely confused and worried for everyone’s safety because something was going to happen in my church or in the Lutheran church,” Jensen said. Police said things could have ended. much differently. They share that residents should always be aware. Things they don’t think can happen in their city can still happen. “Everyone has to be alert and by alert I mean aware,” Mortvedt said. “You think that will never happen in your small town, especially in small communities.” This is a developing story, stay with KCCI 8 News online for the latest updates. Man linked to homicide investigation arrested after confrontation with police at Winterset church Winterset church holds evening service after morning confrontation with police
A man was taken into custody after a police chase and confrontation on Sunday morning.
West Des Moines Police said officers located the vehicle of a man who was a person of interest in a homicide investigation in the Omaha, Nebraska area. The man has been identified as 27-year-old Gage Walter.
West Des Moines police say they tried to arrest Walter this morning before he took off. According to the police, Walter was driving a stolen vehicle. The Omaha World Herald reported that the vehicle was stolen from a detective investigating the homicide.
Officers used arresting sticks and the vehicle stopped at the intersection of Highway 92 and 8th Avenue North in Winterset, Iowa, authorities said. Police say the chase lasted about 45 minutes.
Police say Walter then jumped out of the car and barricaded himself inside St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. No church parishioners were inside the building at the time, and Walter was alone in the church.
“The church was unoccupied at the time, and that’s where he remained for several hours as more law enforcement arrived in the area,” said Mitch Mortvedt, deputy director of the Division of Iowa Criminal Investigations.
After negotiations with the Iowa State Patrol and West Des Moines Police SWAT teams, Walter surrendered without incident.
“The negotiators did a great job and brought this matter to a peaceful end. They can’t be commended enough for that, they did a great job,” said Winterset Police Chief Ken Burk.
Police said Walter would face charges in Iowa including possession of a stolen vehicle, misdemeanor escape, numerous traffic violations and burglary for breaking into the church.
Raw video: Arrest made in Winterset (video courtesy of Michael Hague)
But even with a positive result, neighbors close to the church say they are still in shock over what happened.
“It’s an extremely safe and peaceful city, so it’s crazy to see something like this happen. But what was great was seeing how fast our first responders were and how well they did. did an amazing job. They were there right away and they were everywhere in the situation to make sure no one else got hurt,” neighbor Keegan Jensen said.
Jensen said he was going to the Catholic Church right next to St. Paul’s when he saw all the action. It scared him and his parents.
“I just saw cops everywhere and I was extremely confused and worried for everyone’s safety because something had to happen in my church or in the Lutheran church,” Jensen said.
Police said things could have ended very differently. They share that residents should always be aware. Things they don’t think can happen in their city can still happen.
“Everyone has to be alert and by alert I mean aware,” Mortvedt said. “You think that will never happen in your small town, especially in small communities.”
This is a developing story, stay with KCCI 8 News online for the latest updates.
Man linked to homicide investigation arrested after clash with police at Winterset church
Winterset Church holds evening service after morning police clash
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