Two DNR Conservation Officers placed on leave following involvement in Des Moines fight

DES MOINES – Two DNR Conservation Officers have been placed on paid administrative leave following an incident that took place Thursday, Sept., 19, involving their response to a dispute between two women at the corner of 2nd and Court avenues in downtown Des Moines.

“Two Iowa DNR conservation officers have been placed on administrative leave following an incident that occurred last night at the Court Ave District. There are many questions left to be answered and we are working with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation to conduct a full, fair, and thorough investigation into the matter,” said Alex Murphy, DNR Director of Communications.

In a video of the incident posted to social media, two women appeared to be engaged in a vicious fight in downtown Des Moines, not an uncommon occurrence in the state capitol.  Onlookers gathered to watch as two uniformed DNR conservation officers ran to the location and attempted to pull the two brawling ladies apart.  One officer appeared to deploy pepper spray into the face of one of the women who he was struggling with, the video shows, as the other woman was pulled away by a second officer.  Persons standing nearby attempted to bring race into the matter, as one woman (who was pepper sprayed) was black and the other woman was white and nearly was able to walk away from the scene.  “You just let the white girl go!” one woman screamed at police, before the officer made his way after her.  She also screamed many profanities at the officers.

KCCI reports that “both women, identified as Latisha Johnson and Kathryn Kesler, were arrested and have been released.”