Burlington, Ia (The Hawk Eye)- A day after a standoff that ended with a fire and the death of a man, Des Moines County Sheriff Mike Johnstone criticized former Gov. Terry Branstad for the closure of mental health institutes in the state of Iowa.
Monday morning, members of the West Burlington Police department were called to 414 East Pennington St. on calls of a man with a gun. Throughout the day, the man, who was later identified as Michael Kartel shot at officers and eventually set his house on fire, causing his death.
Sheriff Johnstone told the Hawk Eye, “We knew this was going to happen, this was predictable.”
Johnstone said Kartel was known to have mental health issues. Johnstone said there is no question mental health issues contributed to what unfolded in West Burlington.
When Governor Branstad closed the Mental Health facilities in the area back in 2016 due to budget concerns, Johnstone said law enforcement around the state knew it would end in tragedy. Johnstone said Kartel’s death is the latest mark of the tragedy.
Johnstone also expressed his frustration that state legislators have failed to act to put a functioning mental health system into place.
