Guthrie County Sheriff, Marty Arganbright and Deputy, Kent Gries, issued commendations earlier this week to five officers, including an officer from the Lake View Police Department, for their response following an officer-involved shooting in Stuart in October. Numerous agencies from throughout the region responded to the incident, but Gries, who was treated for gunpowder burns following the exchange, says Lake View Police Department Officer, Brad Wendt; Harrison County Deputy, Mitchell Flaherty; West Des Moines Police Department Officer, Nathan Grove; and two members of the Des Moines Police Department, Sgt. Michael Fong and Detective Brady Carney, deserve special recognition.
On Oct. 17, Deputies, Steven Henry, Jim Menk and Gries, along with Stuart Police Officer, Tyler DeFransisco, were serving an arrest warrant for 52-year-old Randall Comly when he opened fire on law enforcement, resulting in injuries to Menk, Henry and Gries. Comly also sustained a nonlife-threatening gunshot wound before being taken into custody. According to Gries, they are extremely fortunate there was no loss of life during the incident. He says every agency that responded that night proved just how strong the bond is between law enforcement.
Comly is currently in federal custody awaiting trial, which is scheduled for Feb. 3 in U.S. District Court. He is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, methamphetamine possession with intent to distribute and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison. Comly also faces two counts of attempted murder in Adair County District Court.
