Mt. Pleasant man charged after shots fired into Burlington home

BURLINGTON — Burlington police arrested a Mt. Pleasant man after investigators alleged he fired multiple shots into a home on Iowa Street the evening of Friday, Sept. 5.

Officers responded to the 900 block of Iowa Street around 6:29 p.m. on Sept. 5 after reports of gunfire, according to a press release from the Burlington Police Department. Investigators said they found several shell casings in the street and bullet strikes on a nearby house. No injuries were reported.

Detectives identified the suspect as 31-year-old Darius Smallwood of Mt. Pleasant. Witnesses told police they recognized Smallwood, who also goes by the nickname “Tay.”

One man inside the house said Smallwood knocked on his door before the shooting, according to the criminal complaint filed with Iowa Courts.

This man told police that Smallwood made a gun gesture and lifted his shirt to reveal a firearm. The witness said he told Smallwood to get home and shut the door. Moments later, Smallwood allegedly fired multiple shots at the house.

Another man inside the home said he heard a “boom, boom, boom” while watching videos on his phone. He told detectives he saw plaster falling from the walls and ran toward the back of the house to take cover.

Investigators reviewed video evidence showing Smallwood at the residence. Detectives said the footage captured him knocking on the door, looking into the camera, and then running across the street to where officers later found eight .45 caliber shell casings.

Detectives also linked a maroon Chevrolet Equinox registered to Smallwood to the shooting. Surveillance video placed the vehicle in the area minutes before the shots were fired. Officers later found Smallwood driving the vehicle just after midnight on Sept. 6 and took him into custody.

Smallwood denied being on Iowa Street, telling detectives he had been watching a football game at a friend’s house before returning home around 11 p.m. Police said he was wearing the same pants and shoes seen in the surveillance video.

Smallwood was transported to the Des Moines County Jail and booked on a charge of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a Class C felony, police said.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com

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