(Atlantic, Iowa) – A former Cass County Deputy who currently serves with the Iowa State Patrol, and officials with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, were recognized this (Monday) afternoon at the Cass County Courthouse, for the intervention of a security threat towards the President of the United States, and other government officials. An Agent with the Department of Homeland Security Intelligence and Analysis Division, in Des Moines, was on hand for the presentation of awards to Sgt. Tyler Shiels and Sheriff Darby McLaren. The Agent, who only identified himself as “Jim,” said the way the incident was handled was exemplary. It all began with a traffic stop on Interstate 80 in Cass County.

Tyler Shiels receives an award from the Dept. of Homeland Security

Sgt. Sheils (Now Trooper Shiels) initiated a routine traffic stop on a vehicle being driven aggressively by 25-year-old Kuachua Xion, of California, on December 21^st, 2021. The Agent said Sgt. Shiels’ intuition and quick thinking, prevented an attack on the government by a single perpetrator.

Cass County Sheriff Darby McClaren receives an award from the Dept. of Homeland Security

Sheriff McLaren credited Shiels’ training with being able to see the driver’s answers weren’t making sense, and was able to communicate with him to draw out more information.

Sgt. Shiels said his training and experience came together to save the day.

The Iowa State Patrol assisted at the scene, along with other agencies, past the initial traffic stop. According to the criminal complaint Xiong initially said he was recently fired and was traveling to DC to “photograph the White House. ” He then allegedly began talking about the political situation in the nation’s capital, dismissing right-wing conspiracy theories, how he was on his was to Washington, D-C, to allegedly “do whatever it takes” to kill government leaders on his hit list.

The list included President Biden, the president’s chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci, former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, and Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg. When he spoke with investigators, he described his would-be victims as “evil individuals.” Xiong was found to be in possession of an AR-15 style rifle, loaded magazines, boxes of ammunition, and several items of body armor, and medical kits.