Man Who Exchanged Gunfire With Police Identified

The suspect arrested following an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement officials Thursday night near Atalissa has been identified. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said Charles Johnston, 60, is being held in the Cedar County Jail on charges of attempted murder and assault on a police officer with a dangerous weapon.

Iowa State Patrol troopers and local law enforcement officers initially responded to a 911 call of “shots fired” along Interstate 80 east of the 265 mile marker at the rest area Thursday afternoon. They pursued Johnston as he drove westbound and left the interstate at the 265 exit, where he reportedly fired more shots at drivers at the BP gas station.

Troopers stopped him on County Road X46 south of Rochester, where they engaged him and exchanged gunfire. After a brief stand-off, Johnston was taken into custody.

No injuries were reported.

The DCI is investigating as a result of officers being involved in the shooting. They declined to release the names or agencies of the officials who fired shots or say how many shots were exchanged, pending interviews of the law enforcement authorities involved.

Members of the Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, West Branch and West Liberty police departments, and Cedar County, Scott County and Muscatine County sheriff's offices assisted in the incident, along with the Iowa Department of Transportation and emergency medical services personnel.

Image via Morguefile