DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports that on Thursday, May 23rd, the Iowa State Patrol and Division of Criminal Investigation charged 54-year old Gerry Greenland with one count of Attempted Murder. The charge follows an investigation into the action Greenland took towards Decatur County Sheriff Ben Boswell.

Gerry Greenland

A little after 3-p.m. Thursday, Decatur County Sheriff Ben Boswell, along with two deputies, was dispatched to 14163-128th Avenue in rural Grand River following a 911 call with a report of an altercation between family members. The initial responding deputy was confronted by Greenland, who was driving a John Deere 4250 tractor outfitted with a front-end bale spear. As the deputy drove up the driveway, Greenland drove the tractor towards the deputy’s vehicle. The deputy took evasive action and avoid contact with the tractor.

Greenland then drove the tractor towards the vehicle occupied by Sheriff Boswell that was stopped on the grass next to the driveway. The tractor struck Sheriff Boswell’s vehicle, forcing one of the bale spear tines through the driver’s door and pushing the Sheriff and his vehicle more than 100 feet. When the tractor and impaled vehicle came to a rest, deputies were able to get Greenland off the tractor and take him into custody without further incident. Sheriff Boswell was unharmed.