Scott County Attorney Mike Walton has cleared three Davenportpolice officers of any wrongdoing in the Aug. 7 shooting of an18-year-old man on the Centennial Bridge.
Walton said Thursday that the three officers — Sgt. GregBehning, Detective Epigminio Canas and Officer Sam Miller — shotMichael Linn Cross as he tried to run them over with his vehicle inan attempt to break free from a blockade of police vehicles.
“When you don’t stop after officers try to stop you, bad thingsare going to happen,” Walton said. “Mr. Cross raised the level ofdanger for everyone involved. He endangered the lives of officers,he endangered the lives of civilians, and he endangered his ownlife.”
Walton showed video from a squad car’s dashboard camera. Thevideo showed Cross crashing his Chevy Blazer into an unmarkedpolice van at the base of the bridge in Davenport shortly aftermidnight. He then put his vehicle in reverse and struck anotherunmarked vehicle that attempted to box him in.
A marked squad car with lights flashing also attempted to blockhim. The three officers fired their weapons at Cross’s vehicle ashe rapidly accelerated forward.
Walton said the officers fired six rounds, and Cross sustainedthree gunshot wounds that were not life-threatening.
The incident on the bridge lasted 1.03 seconds, Davenport PoliceMaj. Don Schaeffer said.
Schaeffer said the officers fired their weapons because theyfelt they were in danger, adding that Cross turned his steeringwheel “toward those officers.”
The blockade was set up so police would not have to pursue theBlazer into Illinois.
The officers remain on administrative leave pending the outcomeof an internal investigation by the department’s shooting reviewboard that could wrap up by next week, Davenport Police Chief FrankDonchez said.
Walton has filed charges against Cross, including assault on apolice officer with a dangerous weapon. Police have not yet takenCross into custody.
Walton defined the “dangerous weapon” as the Chevy Blazer.
Police first located the Blazer after a report of shots beingfired near a McDonald’s restaurant at 3102 W. Locust St., thatoccurred about 30 minutes before the shooting on the bridge. Policewere in the area responding to a fight in the parking lot outsidethe restaurant. The Mississippi Valley Fair was letting out acrossthe street at the time, and police said hundreds of people were inthe area.
An officer near the scene heard the shot at 11:38 p.m. and sawthe Blazer leave the area. Officers located the Blazer a short timelater and followed it to the Centennial Bridge.
Three other men were with Cross in the Blazer, but they have notbeen charged with any crime. The gun used in the incident on WestLocust Street wasn’t recovered.
Walton said an investigation into the incident continues.
Cross admitted his vehicle was on West Locust Street at the timeshots were fired there, Walton said. He also admitted that he knewpolice officers were trying to stop him on the bridge.
In addition to the assault charge, Walton charged Cross withmarijuana possession, driving under suspension and a stop signviolation. A search of the Blazer recovered marijuana and crackcocaine, although Cross has not been charged with crackpossession.
Walton also charged Cross with operating while under theinfluence of a controlled substance and alcohol, even thoughCross’s blood-alcohol content was measured at .025, below the .08legal limit to drive in Iowa. Both alcohol and marijuana were foundin his system, justifying the charge, Walton said.
When officers got Cross out of his vehicle and onto the ground,he told them he was drunk, Walton added.
His criminal record includes pleading guilty in July in RockIsland County to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 4felony. He was sentenced to two years of probation.
Cross currently lives in Davenport. The Blazer did not belong tohim.
Earlier story: The driver of a vehicle thattried to strike Davenport police officers on the Centennial BridgeAug. 7 and the three officers who shot him when he refused tosurrender were identified this afternoon.
Charges have been filed against Michael Linn Cross, 18, ofDavenport, including assault on a police officer with a dangerousweapon.
Video from a squad car’s dashboard camera showed Cross crashinginto an unmarked police van at the base of the bridge in Davenportshortly after midnight. He then put his Chevy Blazer in reverse andstruck another unmarked vehicle that attempted to box him in. Amarked squad car with lights flashing also attempted to box him in.Three officers fired their weapons at Cross’ car as he rapidlyaccelerated forward.
Cross sustained three, non-life-threatening gunshot wounds andwas treated and has been released from Genesis Medical Center-EastRusholme Street, Davenport.
The three officers who shot him — Sgt. Greg Behnning, DetectiveEpigminio Canas and Officer Sam Miller — are still onadministrative leave pending the outcome of an internalinvestigation by the department’s shooting review board that couldwrap up by next week, Davenport Police Chief Frank Donchezsaid.
Cross has not yet been taken into custody.
His criminal record includes pleading guilty in July in RockIsland County to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 4felony. He was sentenced to two years of probation.