Official with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Friday (Today) released the name of a man involved in a stand-off Wednesday night that ended with him being shot by a Crawford County Sheriff’s Deputy. The suspect was identified as 45-year old James Scott Champion.  Champion is still recovering from two gunshot wounds to his torso, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.  Crawford County Deputy Lt. Corey Utech has been identified as the deputy who returned fire, when Champion allegedly fired a round just before the stand-off ended. Lt. Utech is an 11 year veteran of the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.

Following the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office Policy and Procedures, Lt Utech is currently on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.  Champion is facing two (2) counts of Assault on a Police Officer with a dangerous weapon (Class D Felony).

The incident began at around 6:20-p.m. Wednesday when a concerned citizen called authorities requesting a welfare check on a male subject residing at the Schleswig Manor Apartments, in Schleswig. When Deputies arrived at the apartment complex, Champion, who was inside the building allegedly pointed a long gun at the deputies and allegedly threatened to shoot them if they didn’t back away.

Deputies evacuated other residents of the apartment complex as a precaution. Despite attempts to negotiate with the man, at around 11:45- p.m. (Nearly 4 1/2 hours after the stand-off began), Champion opened a door and pointed the long gun in the direction of officers before firing a single round.

The investigation is still ongoing by the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.