SWALEDALE – This small town in Cerro Gordo county was locked down today as a man in a high emotional state of mind attempted to disarm a deputy then armed himself, causing a standoff.
On March 4, 2024, at approximately 10:53 AM, deputies with the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the 400 block of Main St. in Swaledale for a disturbance involving someone yelling in some sort of crisis. A deputy arrived on scene and made contact with John Randell Jackson, age 43, of Swaledale. Jackson was in distress and tried to disarm the deputy inside the house during the initial contact. Jackson was able to retrieve a firearm from inside the residence. The first responding deputy called for assistance and retreated for safety.
The Cerro Gordo sheriff called for citizens to stay in side for safety, as NIT previously reported.
Multiple law enforcement officers from multiple agencies then arrived on scene and eventually, the area was secured.
Law enforcement negotiators were able to get Jackson to surrender without incident to Cerro Gordo county deputies. No one was injured, and no firearms were discharged by Jackson, nor Law Enforcement.
Jackson was arrested and charged with attempting to disarm law enforcement, a class D felony, by the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office. Jackson was booked into Cerro Gordo County Jail.
There is no ongoing threat to residents of Swaledale, police claim.
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in this incident by the Clear Lake Police Department, Mason City Police Department, Garner Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, and The North Central Iowa Narcotics Task Force Tactical Team and Mason City Fire Medics.
