(Des Moines) – A western Iowa man found responsible for the attempted murder of police officers in Stuart last Fall, was sentenced today (Thursday), to 40-years in Federal prison. 53-year old Randall Lee Comly, of Stuart, received his sentence in U-S District Court, following his guilty pleas to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and felon in possession of a firearm.  He will be eligible for parole after serving 85% – or 34 years – of his sentence. At his sentencing, the United States presented evidence that Comly, a multi-time convicted drug dealer, attempted to murder four law enforcement officers.

On the night of October 17, 2019, officers with the Stuart Police Department and Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office went to Comly’s residence in Stuart to arrest him on valid arrest warrants for second-degree arson and a probation violation. Comly ambushed the officers, jumped out of a closet, and emptied his gun by firing six rounds at a sheriff’s deputy who stood only a few feet away. During the resulting exchange of gunfire, two Sheriff’s deputies were shot. After the shooting, Comly barricaded himself inside the apartment and a hostage negotiation team was called.

Comly eventually gave himself up and was arrested just before midnight. A search of Comly’s residence revealed methamphetamine and items used in drug trafficking. Authorities noted Comly has a lengthy criminal history, including three prior felony drug trafficking convictions. He was serving a state term of probation when he attempted to murder the four officers on October 17, 2019. Based on Comly’s criminal history, the Court found him to be an armed career criminal.

In announcing the sentence, United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum said, “We thank and commend the law enforcement officers from the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office and the Stuart Police Department who in this case put their lives on the line to protect the people in their community from a violent criminal. Randall Comly tried to murder those officers. He tried to take husbands away from their wives, and fathers away from their children so that he could escape justice. Justice was delivered today in federal court, and we are grateful.”

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater posted on social media, “The United States government sending a message that violent career criminals who use firearms to commit crimes are dealt with very seriously. This goal of this serious sentence is not only to promote respect for the law and to provide “just” punishment, but to deter others from similar conduct and to protect the public from future crimes being committed by this defendant.”

Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Kansas City Field Division, Marino Vidoli said, “We are thankful for the heroic actions taken by these deputies and officers. At the very heart of ATF’s mission to investigate violent firearms crime is bringing armed criminals like Randall
Comly to justice. Today’s sentencing ensures that he will be held accountable for his dangerous actions and prevented from engaging in further violence.”

The investigation was spearheaded by the ATF. Investigative support was provided by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Adair County Sheriff’s Office, Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, and the Stuart Police Department. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District
of Iowa, with assistance from the Adair County Attorney’s Office.