Woodbury County Attorney releases results of investigation in officer-involved shooting
SIOUX CITY (KTIV) - The Woodbury County Attorney says a Sioux City officer was legally justified in the shooting in late February.
Officials held a press conference Friday morning to reveal the results of their investigation on an officer-involved shooting that took place in February.
County Attorney James Loomis detailed the incident that happened early on the morning of Feb. 22.
The investigation conducted in cooperation with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation showed that police recognized a car from recent eliuding incidents
The driver of the car was identified as Tara Bulizak, who officers say is known to associate with dangerous felons who are involved with firearms.
The car had also been seen in high drug trafficking areas and had been seen in a recent drive-by shooting. The officer, upon recognizing the car, called for an additional officer as he intended to stop the car for defective equipment.
That officer confirmed that the license plate light was out and initiated a traffic stop near 18th St. and Grandview Boulevard around 3:30 a.m.
The primary officer identified himself to Bulizak and asked for her license, registration and proof of insurance.
That officer did not recognize the passenger, later identified as 30-year-old Vicente Manzo Hernandez. When asked, Hernandez claimed to only speak Spanish and did not provide identification.
The second officer looked through the passenger window and recognized Hernandez from a January traffic stop where authorities found a quarter pound of meth. Those drugs were seized and both people in that incident had been arrested.
The officer who recognized Hernandez relayed the previous stop to the first officer but said he was not sure of his name. Officers looked up the previous stop and the booking photos to confirm Hernandez’s identity. While checking the identity of Hernandez, the officer learned that he had a warrant for his arrest issued on Feb. 21.
Sioux City Officer-Involved Shooting
The warrant involved his failure to appear over a drug case. Officers intended to remove Hernandez from the vehicle and detain him to confirm the warrant and his identity.
When officers attempted to open the passenger-side door, it was locked. The officer knocked on the window, asking Hernandez to step out. Hernandez refused multiple official orders to step out of the car.
The stopping officer moved to the driver’s side and told Bulizak to open the doors, stating that Hernandez had a warrant. Officers asked him again to step out of the car, saying he had a warrant that needed to be addressed.
The second officer noticed Hernandez reaching for the gearshift but was unable to get the vehicle in motion. That officer warned the first officer that the vehicle may go into motion.
The second officer, fearing they may attempt to flee, used his knife to deflate the passenger-side tires. Bulizak jumped out of the car and Hernandez tried to gain control of the car.
When the primary officer attempted to take the suspect into custody, the suspect resisted, leading to the discharge of a firearm by one of the officers.
Bulizak jumped out of the car and Hernandez tried to gain control of the car as did the first officer. The officer ordered Hernandez to get back, but he did not comply. The officer then struck Hernandez in the face to try to get compliance.
While in the passenger seat, Hernandez got his leg over the center console and onto the gas pedal. With the officer still partially in the car he was being pulled along with the car. Neither person had control of the steering wheel and direction of the vehicle.
The officer fired two shots to incapacitate Hernandez. The second officer ran to the driver’s side as the car rolled to a stop. The first officer radioed to dispatch for shots fired. They called for medical assistance as both officers performed life-saving measures.
Hernandez was then transported to a nearby hospital for further treatment.
A day later, on Monday, Feb. 24, Hernandez died. During the autopsy, it was discovered that Hernandez had fentanyl and high levels of methamphetamine in his system.
Bulizak faces no charges in the incident
After the incident, both officers during the stop had been placed on administrative leave. They have since returned to duty.
This is a developing story.
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