Authorities have identified a suspect who fired a shot during a western Iowa standoff and was wounded by a deputy.
The Iowa Division of Public Safety announced Friday that 45-year-old James Champion faces two counts of assault on police with a dangerous weapon following a Wednesday standoff at a Schleswig apartment. He is recovering at an Omaha hospital and is expected to survive. Court records don’t list an attorney who could comment.
Crawford County sheriff’s deputies say the man pointed a rifle at them and threatened to shoot after authorities went to check on him. He later opened his door and pointed a rifle toward officers and fired once. A deputy, now identified as Lt. Corey Utech, returned fire, hitting Champion twice in the torso. Utech is on paid leave.
-Contributed by reporters at the Associated Press
