Search fatalities

Bradley Van Heeswyk

Age : 25

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 08/13/2023

Location : 400 block of Pleasant Circle

City : Pleasant Hill

County : Polk

State : Iowa

Agency : Pleasant Hill PD

Officer(s) :Steven Burroughs

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed during police call for shots fired

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/12/2023, at approximately 12:44 p.m., Polk County dispatch received multiple 911 calls reporting that 25-year-old Bradley Robert Van Heeswyk was firing an AK-47-style rifle in the 400 block of Pleasant Circle in Pleasant Hill. Callers reported that Van Heeswyk was naked, shooting into a residence, and had killed two family dogs before police arrived. Officers responded immediately to an active-shooter situation in a residential neighborhood.
Pleasant Hill Police Officer Steven Burroughs located Van Heeswyk in the backyard of a residence while he continued holding the rifle. Burroughs repeatedly ordered him to drop the weapon. According to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Polk County Attorney, Van Heeswyk instead raised the rifle above his head while continuing to hold it. Burroughs fired a single shotgun round, striking Van Heeswyk. Officers immediately rendered medical aid and requested an ambulance. Van Heeswyk was transported to MercyOne Medical Center, where he died from his injuries.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the shooting. Investigators reviewed body-camera video, witness statements, physical evidence, dispatch recordings, forensic evidence, and interviewed Officer Burroughs. Both the Polk County Attorney's Office and the Iowa Attorney General independently reviewed the investigation.
On 09/06/2023, Polk County Attorney Kimberly Graham concluded that Burroughs' use of deadly force was legally justified, finding that the officer reasonably believed his life, the lives of other officers, and nearby residents were in imminent danger. On 09/22/2023, the Iowa Attorney General reached the same conclusion, determining that no criminal charges were warranted after an independent review of the Division of Criminal Investigation file.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.kcci.com/article/police-armed-man-killed-by-officers-in-pleasant-hill/44800668
https://who13.com/news/name-of-armed-man-shot-to-death-by-pleasant-hill-police-officer-released/
https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/county-attorney/news/graham-shooting-by-pleasant-hill-officer-was-justified-under-iowa-law/
https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/IACIO/2023/09/22/file_attachments/2624209/OIS%20Pleasant%20Hill.pdf