SGT. JASON CHOPARD DOI 06/30/2024
Sgt. Jason Chopard
Waterloo Police Department
Date of Incident 03/30/2024
On Saturday, June 29, 2024, at about 1135 hrs., Daphne Johnson called Black Hawk County Consolidated Dispatch (CFS 24-052980) to report that someone told her Kelvin Plain had been on the front steps and sidewalk in front of her mother's residence while creating a music video that was posted to social media. She reported that the location of this residence was 209 Manson Street.
Officer Jason Chopard was dispatched to this call for service. While on scene, Johnson advised Officer Chopard that Plain did not get along with Johnson's son, who was identified as Tamaris Gary. Johnson believed that Plain had done this to intimidate or harass Gary and his family, as well as putting pressure on Gary. Johnson requested that Officer Chopard trespass Plain from the property. She also informed Officer Chopard that Plain was known to possess guns, and that she was worried about what Plain might do towards her residence, herself, or her family. Officer Chopard also advised Johnson to obtain a "No Trespassing" sign and post it in front of the residence. While Officer Chopard was on scene Johnson showed him parts of the video that Plain had posted to social media.
After leaving the residence, Officer Chopard attempted to call Plain regarding the trespassing; however, he was unable to reach him. Officer Chopard left a voicemail for Plain to call him but never got a return call from Plain.
On June 30, 2024, at about 0822 hrs., Johnson again called into Black Hawk County Consolidated Dispatch (W24-053266) to report that there was a black male riding a bike in front of the residence at 209 Manson Street with a gun and heading toward Sumner Street. Johnson did not see the gun, rather her cousin had seen the individual and the gun. Her cousin also told Johnson that the individual was looking for her son. The individual was no longer able to be seen from the residence by Johnson. Johnson identifies this individual to the call taker as being the same person that was trespassing the previous day (Plain). This crucial information was never passed on to officers when they were dis patched to the call.
Officer Chopard and Officer Thomas Schuster were dispatched to this call, which was dispatched to them as a weapons violation. Knowing that the call originated from 209 Manson Street and having responded to the call for service the day prior, Officer Chopard believed it was likely that Plain was the reported individual. Also, following the call being dispatched, there was radio traffic from Sergeant Thomas Frein passing on information that this individual could possibly be Plain due to the call the day before.
Officer Chopard and Officer Schuster arrived in the area and did not immediately locate anyone matching the given description. Officer Schuster spoke with some people that were outside on Linn Street, and they reported seeing a black male wearing all green on a bicycle, heading east on Adams Street. Those individuals did not see him with a gun at that time. A short time later, Officer Chopard advised dispatch that he observed the black male wearing all green on a bike in Sullivan Park. This individual was talking to someone in the park at the time. The in-car video begins around this time with the prerecording that does not have audio. Officer Chopard is just entering the park with his patrol car. It was around this time that Officer Jamie Sullivan advised dispatch that he would be responding to the call as well.
Officer Chopard slowly drove his patrol car toward the individual on the bike in the park, and a short time later recognized him as Plain. As Officer Chopard's patrol car approached Plain, he began to ride away from him on the bike and Officer Chopard informed dispatch of this. Officer Chopard knew at this time that Plain was trying to evade him as he was riding faster away from him while still in the park. Officer Chopard pursued Plain through Sullivan Park, initially without top lights or siren. As Plain was trying to get away on the bike, he fell off the bike and a handgun also fell from Plain's possession. It was at this lime that Officer Chopard knew the individual to be Plain and Officer Chopard knew Plain to be a convicted felon.
Officer Chopard watched Plain pick the gun back up from the ground and continue to flee east on foot through the park toward E. 4th Street. Officer Chopard remained in his vehicle, activating his lights and siren, while he continued to pursue Plain. II was at this time that Plain ran out of the shoes he was wearing. Officer Chopard advised dispatch via the radio, "He's got a gun."
Plain ran through the park and out onto E. 4th Street. Just as Plain ran out of the park into Fourth Street, Officer Schuster was traveling west in his patrol vehicle on Cottage Street, approaching the park. While Officer Schuster was approaching the park, he heard Officer Chopard radio that "he's got a gun." As Officer Schuster approached E 4th Street, he saw Officer Chopard's patrol vehicle traveling through the park with a man matching the description provided running from him. Just as the man ran into Fourth Street, Officer Schuster was able to also identify him as Plain.
As Plain got to E. 4th Street, Officer Schuster pulled his patrol vehicle toward the curb in an attempt to block Plain from continuing to flee. Plain hit the right front corner of Officer Schuster's patrol vehicle and fell down. As Plain made contact with Officer Schuster's patrol vehicle, Plain could be seen carrying the handgun in his right hand. As this was happening, Officer Schuster exited his patrol vehicle, while Officer Chopard continued behind Plain while remaining in his patrol vehicle. As Officer Schuster got out of his patrol vehicle, Plain got back to his feet with the gun in his right hand and continued to flee on foot toward the south on E. 4th Street. Officer Schuster began to chase Plain on foot and yelled, "Drop the gun." Officer Chopard was also yelling at Plain to put the gun down at that time. II is around this time that Officer Chopard has drawn his service weapon while still sealed in his patrol car.
After yelling at Plain to drop the gun, Officer Schuster deployed his laser at Plain. Plain appeared to be falling down, but the desired result of the laser was not achieved. Plain started to regain his footing, still attempting to run away, and Officer Schuster deployed his laser on Plain a second time and ii appeared to cause Plain to fall to the ground. Both times that Plain was on the ground, he was faced down and facing away from the officers.
At this time, Officer Chopard pulled his patrol vehicle alongside Plain, to the west of him. Officer Schuster was on foot approaching Plain from the northeast, and in very close proximity to Plain. Plain rolled from his stomach to his back and quickly extended his right arm. Plain immediately began shooting at Officer Chopard's patrol vehicle, which was in very close proximity to Plain. After firing multiple rounds at Officer Chopard's patrol vehicle from very close range, Plain turned and fired multiple rounds at Officer Schuster at nearly point-blank range. As this was happening, Officer Schuster attempted to create distance from Plain and moved away from him to the south. During this time, Officer Schuster discarded his Taser fell to the ground while attempting to draw his service weapon.
While Plain was firing at Officer Schuster, Officer Chopard began firing rounds at Plain while still seated in his patrol car. Plain then turns and again starts shooting at Officer Chopard. There is an exchange of gunfire between Officer Chopard and Plain, and by this time, Officer Schuster is on the ground in a prone position and fires rounds at Plain.
During the final exchange of gunfire, Plain's body goes limp and does not move again, and the shooting stops. Officer Chopard is still seated in his patrol vehicle, right next to Plain to the west. Officer Schuster is prone on the street to the south of Plain. During the exchange of gunfire, Officer Schuster had been shot two times by Plain. He was shot once in the chest center mass, which was stopped by his ballistic vest, and once in the lower left leg. Officer Chopard had been shot once by Plain. This round appeared to have passed through the driver's door of his patrol car, striking him in the lower left abdomen below his vest. Officer Chopard's patrol vehicle was struck several times by Plain's gunfire. Both officers were able to relay over the radio that they had been hit by gunfire. Officer Schuster was able to relay that shots had been fired, and the suspect was down.
Officer Chopard and Officer Schuster were transported to the hospital for treatment. The scene was secured, and the DCI was called to investigate. The scene was also processed by the DCI Crime Scene Unit.
The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) determined that Plain had fired 11 shots at the officers and he emptied his weapon. It was also determined that after Plain fired his first shot(s), the officers returned fire.
Officer Chopard was hospitalized for an extended period of time, before eventually being released home with his family. Officer Schuster was also initially hospitalized and then released home to his family. For the next several months, both officers continued to rehabilitate their injuries util they were healed and could return to full duty. Officer Chopard returned to full duty status a little over 4 months post-incident November 4th , 2024. Officer Schuster returned to full duty status about 5 ½ months post-incident on December 14th , 2024.
