Dispatches From Iowa

The following is the complete, unrestricted version of Des Moines Police radio traffic provided by Dispatches From Iowa of the Veterans’ Day standoff at 5517 Aurora Avenue in Des Moines.

The 50-minute audio file begins at the very beginning as patrol cars are dispatched to the Target store at Merle Hay Mall where witnesses reported a female was forced into a vehicle. Moments later, another 911 call reported a domestic at 5517 Aurora, reported by a third party. The dispatcher connected the abduction to this domestic.

The suspect, standing on the apartment’s balcony, shot a police officer in the hand as he was getting out of his car. “Officer down” can be heard several times. The suspect held a female hostage and kept police at bay for more than an hour. The audio ends as the suspect was taken into custody and normal radio traffic resumes. Unrelated audio traffic at the beginning was edited out for clarity.

Radio traffic provides more insight as to how the Des Moines Police contained the scene, evacuated residents, and how dispatchers kept officers calm in moments of chaos and uncertainty. Dispatches From Iowa voluntarily withheld publication of this file until all persons involved were identified by official sources, and after the Des Moines Police officially released dispatch recordings.

Click here to download the mp3 audio file. Extremely large file. 50 minutes, 26 seconds — 23 MB

Click here for more information about the incident from the Des Moines Register.

A 47-year-old woman was arrested after she led police on a short police chase beginning at 27th Street and Hickman Road and ending less than 15 blocks away near Prospect Park in Des Moines. A mail carrier tipped the police about a person trying to run over a pedestrian. When an officer initiated the traffic stop, the suspect continued until 15th and Hickman, where she was pepper sprayed and then took off into a wooded area. The suspect was treated for minor injuries and charged with eluding police and interfering with official acts.

Click here to download the audio file.

Click here for more information from the Des Moines Register.

Squealing tires and roaring engines could be heard as a Des Moines police officer reports a 10-80 shortly after 9 p.m. on Friday, August 28 at the intersection of Easton Boulevard and University Avenue after the driver in the dark-colored Silverado failed to stop for a routine traffic stop. The pursuit continued for several minutes on the east side, driving through a yard, an alley and through stop signs before stopping at a residence when the officer apprehended the suspect at gunpoint in the driveway.

Click here to download the audio file.

A burglar described by his victims as “a good talker” eluded the Des Moines police on in the early morning hours on Tuesday, August 25. The burglar struck numerous houses in the north central area of the city, sometimes running into homeowners during the intrusions, often confusing the homeowners in their sleepy dazes.

After a victim’s truck was stolen, police were alerted and quickly spotted the truck and initiated a traffic stop when the truck ran. The driver lost control and fled on foot, successfully evading capture.

Click here to download the audio file.

Click here for more information from the Des Moines Register.

On early Saturday morning, July 25, Drake security officers noticed two campus buildings’ doors shattered and found an allegedly intoxicated man laying inside of the building at 27th and Carpenter, later identified as a 6′4″, 250-pound senior lineman for the Drake Bulldogs.

After the first officers arrived on scene shortly after 6 a.m., one officer immediately calls for backup, bringing the total to four Des Moines patrol cars plus Drake security officers.

At one point, an officer’s radio keys down and “stop resisting” can be heard being ordered as officers wrestle the man. A Taser was deployed in the incident and the Drake athlete was taken into custody. An officer can be heard with heavy breathing at the end of the struggle.

The crime scene unit was dispatched to the scene and the suspect was charged with two counts of assault on a police officer, criminal mischief, interference with official acts and public intoxication.

Click here to download the audio.

Click here for more information from the Des Moines Register.