A lawsuit has been filed in regards to a 2024 Fort Dodge Police Department use of force incident that resulted in the death of a Fort Dodge man.
Tyler Stansberry, 24, of Fort Dodge, was fatally shot by Fort Dodge Police on March 16th, 2024, during what was described by the family as a mental health crisis.
The suit identifies the plaintiff as Stansberry’s mother, both as an individual and as the administrator of Stansberry’s Estate. The petition names the City of Fort Dodge and four officers as defendants.
According to the filing, a family member had called 911 to report Stansberry was having a mental health crisis. The caller relayed to the dispatcher they had “already filed papers to get him taken out.” The day prior, Webster County District Court issued an involuntary mental health commitment order.
When officers arrived on scene, Stansberry was in the basement reportedly armed with a weapon. The filing goes on to say the four officers entered the home and proceeded down to the basement, where Stansberry emerged from a room in the basement and moved directly towards the officers. The suit alleged Stansberry was hit with a taser, beanbag round, and two bullets nearly simultaneously.
The Iowa Attorney General’s Office found the use of force was justified, reporting that Stansberry had a knife and charged at the officers.
