LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA – The Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Iowa Division of Criminal Investigationhas completed their investigation into the Officer Involved Shooting of a man that allegedly fled law enforcement and then drove his car at a deputy before the officer shot him.
On June 9, 2015, at approximately 11:40 PM, Louisa County Deputies initiated a vehicle stop on a blue 1993 Cadillac Seville for traffic violations. The operator and sole occupant, Richard Spurling, 55, of Muscatine, failed to stop. Spurling attempted to flee and Louisa County deputies, in fully marked squads, pursued him. Spurling was traveling in a northeasterly direction on Stewart Road. The pursuit turned west onto Fruitland Road and came to rest near the Fruitland Road and Crimson Road intersection. Louisa County Deputies approached the Cadillac Seville and Spurling drove his vehicle towards an approaching deputy. One Louisa County deputy discharged his duty sidearm in the direction of Spurling. Spurling was struck in the upper torso with one round and was transported to the local hospital for non-life threatening injuries. No deputies were injured during the incident.
Louisa county deputy, David Perley was identified as the shooter. The DCI has interviewed Perley for his role in the shooting.
Perley is a twenty-seven (27) year veteran of law enforcement. From 1988-2002, Perley was employed by the City of Muscatine as a police officer for the Muscatine Police Department. He has been a deputy for the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office from 2002 to present.
All interviews relevant to the investigation have been completed to include interviews of Perley and Louisa county deputies that were on scene at the time of shooting. Richard Spurling has also been interviewed. The investigative facts are being forwarded to the Muscatine County Attorney’s office for review. Nothing further will be released until a decision is made by the Muscatine County Attorney’s Office.
