Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

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.

April 12, 2021
Iowa Trooper Shot and Killed During Standoff, Suspect in Custody at Hospital

Sgt. Jim Smith of the Iowa State Patrol was shot and killed during a standoff Friday night. (Photo: ISP)

2 min to read


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.

Ad Loading...

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.

Ad Loading...

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.

Ad Loading...

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

Bradenton, Florida, Police Department’s September 2026 Officers of the Month: Sergeant Andres Perez and Officers Rosey Bautista, Michael Wall, and Alexandra Fallacaro, pictured in uniform beside American flags.
Patrol•October 30, 2026

NLEOMF Honors September 2026 Officers of the Month

Four Bradenton Police Department officers were selected as the NLEOMF Officers of the Month for September 2026 for a nighttime water rescue.

Read More →
BLACKHAWK! Mini EDC multitools displayed in tan and black, showing open pliers, knives, and other tools alongside their folded configurations against a textured gray background with the BLACKHAWK! logo.
Patrol•October 29, 2026

Blackhawk Debuts Mini EDC Pocket Multi-Tool

The Blackhawk Mini EDC Pocket Multi-Tool stows easily in pants pockets thanks to a sturdy stainless steel pocket clip and incorporates several essential/emergency tools into a single, high-mobility unit.

Read More →
Team Wendy EXFIL Endurance ballistic helmet in olive green with tactical rails and chin strap, displayed alongside the Team Wendy logo and product headline against a textured black-and-gray background.
Patrol•October 23, 2026

Team Wendy Introduces the EXFIL Endurance Ballistic Helmet, Engineered to Reduce the Burden of Extended Wear

Team Wendy has launched its EXFIL Endurance, a new lightweight ballistic helmet engineered to deliver protection, comfort, and fit during demanding, extended operations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Collage featuring paramedics, firefighters, police officers, and emergency vehicles surrounding the First Responders Children’s Foundation logo, highlighting the organization’s support for families of first responders.
Patrol•October 22, 2026

The First Responders Children’s Foundation National First Responders Day Roll Call of Heroes Ceremony Returns to Times Square, NYC

First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF), in collaboration with T-Mobile, will host the Roll Call of Heroes ceremony in Times Square to commemorate National First Responders Day on Wednesday, Oct. 28. During the event, FRCF will present 18 Hero Awards.

Read More →
Streamlight promotional graphic showcasing four lighting products: TLR-3X, PolyTac 1X, ProTac Rail Mount 1L-X, and ProTac Rail Mount VIR Pro, displayed against an orange and black background with the Streamlight logo.
Patrol•October 22, 2026

Streamlight to Showcase Newest Lighting Products for Law Enforcement Professionals at IACP 2026

Streamlight will showcase its newest lights for law enforcement at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference & Expo. Featured lights will include the TLR-3 X, the PolyTac 1X, and more.

Read More →
Streamlight Portable Scene Light III featuring a tripod-mounted LED work light and close-up product view, with a badge recognizing it as the 2026 OH&S New Product of the Year winner.
Patrol•October 15, 2026

Streamlight Portable Scene Light III Wins 2026 OH&S New Product of the Year Award

Streamlight’s Portable Scene Light III has won the 2026 Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) New Product of the Year Award in the Lighting category.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Hands insert an Adept Armor protective plate into a camouflage tactical plate carrier, demonstrating how the armor plate fits inside the vest.
Patrol•September 17, 2026

Adept Armor Introduces Two New Rifle Plates

Adept Armor has launched two new Level IV ballistic plates, the Emperor and the Archon Mark 2, which brings Adept Armor’s new Quatroid ceramic to the high-threat, performance-value center of the range at 5.2 pounds.

Read More →
Open Benchmade folding knife with a bronze-colored blade, textured dark handle, and braided lanyard resting on weathered wooden boards.
Patrol•by Wayne Parham•September 17, 2026

POLICE Product Test: Benchmade Bailout

The Benchmade Bailout is a slim, lightweight carry knife with a deep-ride pocket clip and comes in a variety of blade steels and scales. Here is a detailed review of the Taiga Green Bailout, released earlier this year.

Read More →
Officer of the Month graphic honoring Deputy Lorne Juday of the Osceola County, Michigan, Sheriff’s Office for July 2026, featuring a portrait of Juday in uniform.
Patrol•September 17, 2026

NLEOMF Announces July 2026 Officer of the Month

NLEOMF honored a Michigan deputy sheriff as the July 2026 Officer of the Month for rescuing a trapped driver from a burning vehicle following a Fourth of July crash.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Streamlight promotional graphic featuring the LiteBox 1 Million handheld light and Portable Scene Light III, highlighting products displayed for the 2026 National Safety Council Safety Congress & Expo in Indianapolis, Sept. 14–16.
Patrol•September 10, 2026

Streamlight to Showcase Newest Lighting Products at National Safety Council’s Safety Congress & Expo 2026

Streamlight will showcase its latest lights, including the Portable Scene Light III and the LiteBox 1Million, at the 2026 National Safety Council (NSC) Safety Congress & Expo.

Read More →