The Council Bluffs Police Department reports that at around 12:30-p.m. today (Wednesday), the Pottawattamie County Communications Center received a call to a residence in the 200 block of Yellow Pole Road – man down/medical call.  Pottawattamie County Deputies and Council Bluffs Officers responded and discovered a deceased 51 year-old male inside the residence.  Information developed during the investigation in this case, and a pursuit/shooting by Police early this (Wednesday) morning, indicates that incident are tied together.

Due to the complexity of the investigations, the need to notify family, and to follow up on additional leads we will not be releasing any further information until 9-a.m. Thursday.

Earlier today (Wednesday), authorities said law enforcement officials were in the preliminary stages of investigating a fatal, officer-involved shooting that took place  in the 1400 block of Indian Hills Road. A about 2:15-a.m., a Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to stop a 1997 Dodge Ram pickup, in the area of 205th Street and Juniper Road. When the driver of the pickup refused to yield, a pursuit began.

The deputy reported several gunshots were fired at him from the interior of the pickup, during the short pursuit. The vehicle eluded the deputy and drove southbound into Council Bluffs on Railroad Avenue, when Council Bluffs Police engaged in the pursuit. Shots were fired out of the pickup at the pursuing officers, with one of the marked Council Bluffs P-D SUV’s being struck by gunfire.

The pickup exited Railroad Avenue and entered onto Indian Hills Drive, where the driver lost control before the vehicle rolled onto its side. Several officers surrounded the vehicle, which was occupied by the male driver and a female passenger. Officers could see the man was armed with two firearms, one of which was pointed at the female, while the other was pointed in the direction of the officers.

Police attempted to convince the driver to put down his weapons, but he refused. An officer on the scene fired one round at the driver, striking him in the head, ending the hostage situation. The female was taken to a Council Bluffs hospital for a precautionary evaluation.

The names of the driver and passenger, as well as the officers and deputies involved, will be released at a later stage in the investigation. No officers or deputies were injured during the pursuit or hostage incident, which remains under investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Council Bluffs P-D and Pott. County Sheriff’s Office.