Council Bluffs Police are unraveling details of a crime spree that ended Wednesday morning with an officer shooting and killing an armed man in a pick up truck.
During a Thursday morning news conference Police Chief Tim Carmody said 28 year old Troy . Peterson of Essex, Iowa was shot to death by a 9-year veteran of the Council Bluffs Police department during an armed standoff with authorities.
Carmody says 44 year old April Montella-Roberts, who was initially described as a hostage inside of a pickup truck, was Petersen's accomplice and is now facing murder and several other charges.
Carmody provided details about the complex and deadly crime spree. It began on Sunday when authorities investigated the suspicious death of 52 year old Jerrot Clark insode his house at 21st Street and 6th Avenue. Carmody says Clark had been shot once.
Authorities said Thursday that Peterson and Montello-Roberts had entered Clark's home with the intention of robbing him. They say they ultimately killed him.
Carmody says on Wednesday at 2:15 a.m. Deputy Ryan Olderog noticed a Dodge Ram pickup truck stopped with its headlights off. The deputy tried to stop the Dodge for the minor traffic violation and suspicious activity. A passenger in the pickup fired shots from the truck at the deputy as the truck fled. Deputy Olderog lost sight of the Ram as it fled south on Juniper Rd.
Council Bluffs Police were in the area of Kanesville Blvd. and Railroad Ave. to assist in locating the vehicle. Officers Colby McCord and Anthony Fletcher noticed the Dodge and tried to stop it. The driver of the Dodge fled onto Indian Hills Rd. while the passenger again began firing shots at the officers.
The Dodge Ram crashed in the 1400 block of Indian Hills Rd. with both occupants still inside. The man, later identified as Petersen and Montello-Roberts of Shenandoah were actively moving inside the vehicle.
Investigators say Petersen pointed one gun out the window toward officers and one at Montello-Roberts. After trying to negotiate with Petersen for two hours Carmody says he became more agitated and had the gun up to Montello-Roberts' head.
In an effort to save her life Carmody says an officer fired one shot through the windshield of the Dodge Ram and killed Petersen.
Carmody says several hours later they were called to a Council Bluffs home where they found the body of 51 year old Steven Carlson. He too had been shot to death. He says that during the short time deputies and officers had lost sight of Petersen and Montello-Roberts they killed Carlson after forcing their way into his home. Officials did not learn of Carlson's death until he was found by family.
Authorities encountered the suspects shortly after they had left Carlson's home, which resulted in the pursuit that ended in the crash of the truck and the shooting of Peterson. Carmody also says they now believe Montello-Roberts was driving the fleeing Dodge Ram while Petersen fired shots at officers.
In addition to the two counts of Felony Murder and two counts of Attempted Murder, Montello-Roberts is charged with First Degree Robbery and First Degree Burglary.