County Attorney Clears Fairfield Officers Who Shot At Car

FAIRFIELD, Iowa (AP) — The Van Buren County attorney has determined two Fairfield police officers didn’t violate the law when they opened fire on a vehicle carrying two teenagers.

County Attorney Abraham Watkins announced Thursday that after reviewing an investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, he determined officers Kathy Blumhagen and David Wall acted lawfully when they fired in the direction of a car.

The shooting happened in June 2 when the officer chased the car, which then stopped south of Birmingham. As the officers approached the car, it drove toward Wall.

The officers opened fire, hitting the vehicle but not the 19-year-old driver, Dakota Murray, or a 16-year-old female passenger.

Murray was convicted of eluding a pursuing law enforcement vehicle and remains in prison.