Iowa Trooper Shot and Killed During Standoff, Suspect in Custody at Hospital
The suspect Michael Thomas Lang ran for sheriff of Grundy County in 2020 and won the Democratic primary with 517 votes.
Sgt. Jim Smith of the Iowa State Patrol was shot and killed during a standoff Friday night. (Photo: ISP)
An Iowa State Patrol sergeant was shot and killed during a tactical entry at a standoff Friday night. The suspect is in custody after being critically wounded.
The incident that led to the death of Sgt. Jim Smith began with a traffic stop in Grundy Center involving a man identified by authorities as Michael Thomas Lang, KCCI reports. Lang reportedly ordered the officers to kill him at the scene.
He then overpowered and disarmed one of the officers, police say.
Backup officers arrived on scene and Lang reportedly fled in his vehicle and went to his home.
Law enforcement officers from several agencies went to the home and set up a perimeter.
At about 8:55 p.m. four Iowa State Patrol troopers and a K9 unit made entry into the residence through the garage. The team identified themselves before entering the home.
Law enforcement said while the team was clearing the upstairs of the residence, Smith was hit with gunfire coming from inside the residence. After Sgt. Smith was shot, the entry team saw Lang emerge from the doorway holding a black, pump-action shotgun.
Sgt. Smith was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
An Iowa State Patrol tactical team later used an armored vehicle to make entry at around midnight. They reportedly came under fire and returned fire, hitting Lang multiple times, Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, said at a press conference.
Lang has been charged with first-degree murder and is being held on a $1 million cash bond.
KCRG reports that Lang ran for sheriff of Grundy County in 2020 and won the Democratic primary with 517 votes.
Republican Kirk Dolleslager won the election and took office as sheriff on Jan. 1, 2021. Grundy County Sheriff's deputies were involved in the standoff.
The Grundy Register reported that Lang has a long list of previous criminal convictions and was twice charged with a felony-once for third offense OWI in 2009 and once for Third Degree Burglary in 1999-but on both occasions, he pled down to aggravated misdemeanor adjudications.
More Patrol
Folds of Honor Celebrates Graduation Season as 1,613 Military and First Responder Family Scholars Earn Their Degrees
Every Folds of Honor scholar graduating in the Class of 2026 carries a story starting with sacrifice. Folds of Honor ensures it doesn’t end there. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 73,000 educational scholarships to military and first responder families.
Read More →
Why Tennessee’s New Deadly Force Law Matters Beyond Tennessee
Tennessee’s new deadly force law is more limited than many may realize. Effective July 1, 2026, the law applies to a person who is not engaged in conduct that would constitute a felony or a Class A misdemeanor and who is in a place where the person lawfully resides. But it could have far-reaching influence.
Read More →
When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer by Police Vehicle?
Time-sensitive injuries like penetrating trauma mean a wounded officer needs to reach a trauma center as soon as possible, and in some cases, that means transporting by police vehicle rather than waiting for EMS. What are the factors to consider in making that transport decision?
Read More →
Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty
What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.
Read More →
5 Things to Know When Buying Backup Lights for Patrol Use
What is the value of a backup light, and what do you need to consider when selecting one? These smaller lights are invaluable as a secondary or special-purpose light and can be easily carried in a pocket or clipped to MOLLE gear, a key chain, shirt, or a vest.
Read More →
363 Fallen Officers Honored During National Police Week
In case you missed NELOMF’s annual Candlelight Vigil, here are all 363 names of the fallen officers whose names were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this year.
Read More →
NYPD Officers Who Responded Quickly During IED Incident Recognized as NLEOMF Officers of the Month
Chief Aaron Edwards and Sgt. Luis Navarro were recognized by NLEOMF as Officers of the Month for their response during an IED incident and their actions that helped prevent harm to the public.
Read More →
National Police Survey Reveals How Americans View Policing Today
A new national survey offers a comprehensive look at how Americans view policing. The study uncovers public sentiment toward local vs. federal police, communications, crisis response, the use of AI in policing, and more.
Read More →
Streamlight TLR-7 X Selected as Standard Issue Pistol Light by Canadian Federal Police
The Canadian Federal Police will be adding a new duty pistol system, which will include Streamlight’s TLR-7 X and a Glock 45 MOS 7 pistol with a red dot sight.
Read More →
Fallen Law Enforcement Officers from Across the Country to be Honored During 38th Annual Candlelight Vigil on May 13th in Washington, D.C.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) will honor 363 fallen officers who have died in the line of duty as their names are added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial during the annual Candlelight Vigil on May 13.
Read More →