Salvador Perez-Garcia: Iowa man shot dead after he rams truck into two patrol cars, threatens cops
SIOUX CITY, IOWA: In a tragic turn of events outside an Iowa casino, 55-year-old Salvador Perez-Garcia of Sioux City lost his life after being shot by police.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) revealed that the incident unfolded when Perez-Garcia's truck rammed two police vehicles, prompting a chain of events that ultimately led to the fatal confrontation.
What led to Salvador Perez-Garcia's shooting?
The DCI stated that a Sioux City officer, stationed inside a parking garage at the Hard Rock Casino around 4 am on Monday, January 8, encountered Perez-Garcia's white truck, which drove at the patrol vehicle and collided head-on. Subsequently, responding officers met the truck as it exited the garage, where it again rammed a second patrol vehicle head-on.
Despite officers' attempts to de-escalate the encounter and disarm Perez-Garcia, their efforts were unsuccessful. As the situation escalated, the suspect emerged from his truck, "swinging a length of chain with an affixed metal object in an aggressive, threatening manner," according to the DCI's news release.
Vehicular collision escalates to fatal shooting
The DCI reported that when Perez-Garcia persisted in approaching the officers while swinging the object, they resorted to using lethal force.
"Perez-Garcia refused to comply with the officers' commands and continued to approach them swinging the object. Officers fired their duty weapons, striking him. The officers then performed lifesaving measures, but Perez-Garcia died at the scene," the statement said.
The identities of the involved officers have not been disclosed, and both are currently on leave pending an investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Sioux City Police Chief Rex Mueller informed the Sioux City Journal that one officer was treated for injuries sustained during the initial impact when Perez-Garcia's truck collided with the patrol vehicle.
Investigations by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are ongoing.
"The Sioux City Police Department will be cooperating fully with the DCI investigation and believes in transparency when dealing with critical incidents. These investigations can take a significant amount of time, and we request patience as our department deals with this challenging situation. The department will release further information at the conclusion of the investigation," said Mueller.
