Department of Public Safety releases name of officer in Dec. 3 shooting

MT. PLEASANT — The Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) named Henry County Sheriff Deputy Carlos Lopez as the officer who shot Samantha Shumaker during a domestic disturbance call, Dec. 3.

At approximately 10 p.m., Dec. 3, Mt. Pleasant Police Department and Henry County Sheriff’s Office dispatched officers to 710 N. Main St. with reports of a male caller held at gunpoint.

Court documents claim the domestic disturbance escalated from a verbal altercation to Shumaker holding Steve Lovell at gunpoint in bathroom of the residence.

According to the initial news release from DPS, when officers first arrived, they found Steve Lovell calling for help from a bathroom window.

Mt. Pleasant Police Officer Chantz Vargus stated in court documents he, “instructed the victim to get out of the residence by jumping out of a window.”

Once Lovell was clear of the residence, Vargus alleges he saw “a hand stick out of from the window that the victim had jumped out of. The defendant [Shumaker] was also identified by a Henry County Sheriff's Deputy to be pointing a handgun towards the victim as he was running away from the residence.”

Vargus makes no reference of the officer-involved shooting in his affidavit of events submitted to the court.

According to the DPS release, “While attempting to make contact with the subject, the subject brandished a weapon and an officer discharged their weapon.”

The shooting officer, Lopez, has two years and eight months experience with the Henry County Sheriff Department.

“Shumaker refused the officers orders to put the weapon down,” the updated release from DPS on Dec. 8 added to their initial report. Shumaker received a gunshot wound to her arm and was immediately provided on-scene first aid.”

An ambulance initially transported Shumaker to Henry County Medical Center then transferred to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.

“I DID NOT hear an officer yell to me to put my weapon down,” Shumaker alleged in court documents.

“The officer that shot me, FINALLY came in the house and applied a tourniquet to my arm,” she also claims. “While doing so he was apologizing over and over for shooting me because he was mixed up.”

“A handgun was located on the floor of the bathroom located inside of the residence,” Vargus wrote in a criminal complaint filed in the court case.

According to the latest from DPS, Lopez cooperated and interviewed with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Once the investigation is complete, DCI will forward the findings to the Henry County Attorney’s Office for review.

While this incident remains under investigation, Lopez remains on Critical Incident Leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Charges brought against Shumaker include domestic abuse with display or use of a weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor and False Imprisonment, a serious misdemeanor.

According to the Iowa Criminal Statutes Summary Chart, this aggravated misdemeanor could result in up to two years of jail time and fines between $855 and $8,540.

False imprisonment carries a sentencing of up to one year and fines between $430 and $2,560.

With the posting of a $3,000 bond on Dec. 6, Shumaker is no longer in custody as she awaits her court hearing Dec. 16 at 9 a.m. at Henry County Court House.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com