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2 officers exonerated of charges in a fatal, Council Bluffs shooting

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July 27th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Two police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a murder suspect following a high-speed chase will not face charges. Pottawattamie County Attorney Matt Wilber said Wednesday, that an investigation showed that the officers were “fully justified in their use of deadly force” against 41-year-old Matthew Briggs.

Authorities said officers from multiple agencies, including Omaha police and Council Bluffs police, were involved in the pursuit of Briggs, who was wanted for murder in Omaha, and was known to be armed with multiple weapons. Investigators said the pursuit crossed from Nebraska into Iowa, with Briggs driving more than 100 mph at times during the chase. The pursuit ended in Council Bluffs when an officer stopped Briggs using a PIT maneuver on his vehicle. Wilber said Briggs pointed a sawed-off shotgun at police when Lt. Martin Stiles with Omaha police and Lt. Chad Geer with Council Bluffs police fired their weapons, killing the 41-year-old.

The two were placed on paid administrative leave while the incident was under investigation. Matt Wilber said his office reviewed more than 2,000 photographs, 20 videos of the scene including helicopter video, body cam video, and police cruiser video. The investigation determined Stiles had a 223-caliber rifle and fired six rounds. When the officers fired back, Briggs was hit twice in right hand, once in left leg and once in the head. Officers subsequently recovered the shotgun from Briggs’ vehicle, as well as a handgun with a full clip and one in the chamber, two loaded revolvers, two different knives, a set of brass knuckles, additional ammunition, and 23.6 grams of methamphetamine.

Briggs also had cocaine with indications that it had been combined with fentanyl. Wilber said officers also found a handwritten note that included “targets” including the murder victim.