Police in Council Bluffs, Wednesday, released the identities of two officers involved in an incident that took place Oct. 14th, where one of the officers fired on a stolen vehicle that was being driven by a man who escaped from custody. Authorities said Uniform Officer Ben Lake (a four-year veteran of the force) was the initial officer on scene at the Bomgaar’s store on east Kanesville Blvd.,  following a report of a fraud in progress.

Lake was able to identify a suspect, 27-year old Adam W. Thomas, of Council Bluffs, who was still in the store. With the assistance of Officer Aaron Legband (a seven-year veteran of the force), Thomas was handcuffed and taken into custody. He was placed in the Officer Lake’s patrol vehicle, but while both officers were continuing with their investigation, Thomas somehow escaped from the patrol car.

He got into the stolen pickup he had arrived in and began to drive away. Officer Lake ordered Thomas to stop, but he continued to try and flee the parking lot. In the process the pickup he was driving struck Officer Lake in the lower torso. Lake fired his service weapon toward the vehicle, but Thomas was able to flee the scene. Officer Legband did not fire his service weapon.

Thomas was apprehended two days later by Omaha Police.  Pottawattamie County Attorney Matt Wilber is reviewing the shooting incident with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and is in the process of reviewing the criminal charges in Pott. County. He is also coordinating with authorities in Nebraska, to determine the best course of prosecution.

Thomas was being held in the Douglas County, Nebraska, Jail, on charges out of Nebraska that include Felony Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm by Prohibited Person, Burglary and (3) counts of Possession of Stolen Firearms. He was also being held for extradition to Iowa a warrant for Attempted Murder, Theft in the 1st degree, Theft by Deception, and Escape from Custody.