March 29, 2024

Cedar Falls officer shot attacker twice

CEDAR FALLS (AP) — Authorities say a Cedar Falls officer twice shot a man who was beating him.

The man, 27-year-old Zachary Church, of Parkersburg, is recovering at Sartori Memorial Hospital. Cedar Falls Police Chief Jeff Olson says Church will face assault and marijuana charges after he’s released from the hospital.

Officer Bob Anderson had found Church asleep behind the wheel of a running car around 3 a.m. Wednesday. Olson says Anderson was taking Church to Anderson’s patrol car when Church started punching him.

Church ended up atop Anderson on the ground. Olson says Anderson felt himself losing consciousness, so he pulled his revolver and shot Church. The chief says Church backed off momentarily but soon resumed his attack, forcing another shot by Anderson.

Anderson was treated at a hospital and released.