MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — The actions of a Marshalltown police officer who hit an armed subject with a patrol vehicle on July 4th have been deemed “legally justified under Iowa law” by the Marshall County Attorney.

The Marshalltown Police Department said the incident in question happened around 5:11 a.m. on July 4th when officers were called to the 1000 block of Washington Street. As they investigated, they found a male, later identified as 22-year-old Zannah Towah, believed to have been involved in an assault, walking westbound in the 1100 block of Washington Street.

An officer turned on the emergency lights on their patrol vehicle to talk to Towah, but he kept walking. A short time later, he stopped and turned, displaying a handgun and began turning toward the officer who was sitting in their patrol car.

The officer drove forward and struck Towah with the car, disarming him.

Towah was transported to UnityPoint Hospital and treated for minor injuries before being released to the Marshall County Jail. No officers were injured in the incident, and there was minimal damage to a patrol vehicle.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Iowa State Patrol assisted MPD in the investigation. Following a review of the incident, Marshall County Attorney Jordan Gaffney said the use of force was legally justified under the circumstances.

Towah has been charged with assault on persons engaged in certain occupations and domestic abuse assault with intent or display of a weapon.

The investigation remains open. If you have information to share with investigators about the incident you can call the Marshalltown Police Department at 641-754-5725 or leave an anonymous tip with Marshall County Crime Stoppers at 641-753-1234.