LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA – State investigators say that a deputy was within the bounds of the law when he fired his gun and shot a man suspected of drunk driving who drove his Cadillac in the deputy’s direction.
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, age 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.
Spurling was later charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated; eluding; driving while revoked; possession of drug paraphernalia and five simple misdemeanor traffic offenses.
Louisa county deputy David Perley was identified as the shooter. Perley is a twenty-seven 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.
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) interviewed Perley for his role in the shooting. The DCI has also conducted an investigation of the incident and shared the results of that investigation with the Muscatine County Attorney. After a review, the Muscatine County Attorney has determined that the use of deadly force by Deputy Perley was lawful. This decision has been communicated to the Iowa DCI, the Louisa County Sheriff and to Deputy Perley.
Spurling remains in custody in the Muscatine County Jail.
