BETTENDORF, Iowa — Update 09/11/2020:
Bettendorf police have identified the officer who shot a man to death as a seven-year veteran of the department. Police on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 identified the officer who fired the shots on Sept. 3 as Patrick Mesick. Mesick has been interviewed by state investigators and remains on paid administrative leave.
Original Story:
A man with a sharp-edged weapon was shot dead by police in a Bettendorf home. This happened as officers were responding to a report that a child was being put in danger.
Police were called to a home near the intersection of 16th 1/2 Street and Bellevue Avenue where somebody reportedly had a knife to a four-year-old's throat, according to a statement from Bettendorf Chief of Police Keith Kimball. Officers were dispatched shortly before noon on Thursday, September 3.
When police got into the house, there was a man holding a "sharp edged weapon" who police engaged with. Chief Kimball said there were multiple young children present and there was an "imminent danger."
An officer fired his gun at the man, hitting him once. The man, 53-year-old Timothy Alan Clevenger from Silvis, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Scott County real estate records show that Clevenger is the owner of the home, which is listed as a registered in-home daycare run by someone else.
There were no other injuries reported and police said there is no threat to the public.
The investigation has been turned over to the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation and the officer involved was placed on administrative leave, which is a standard policy of the department.
Some neighbors say they were surprised to see this happen in their quiet neighborhood.
"When the officer saw the child was held hostage, he must've had no other choice," Neighbor Allen Holloway says.
He says the in-home daycare has been functioning there for about 20 years, and the kids were always playing on the block.
"(The kids) like to roller skate up ad down the driveway there, and a few older kids came out into the street, but there was never any problem there," Holloway says.
Elizabeth Yoder has lived across the street from the daycare for a year now, and she says shes not sure what could've led up to the confrontation.
"So many things were probably involved in the situation," she says.
Neighbors say their block is quiet again, and they are now just waiting for answers.
"It leads me to believe that this was an act of desperation, and not some crazy man coming into hurt children," Holloway says. "I think it was an act of desperation to get somebody to listen to him."
Both Holloway and Yoder are now also wishing the best for the families involved.
"I just hope the children come out okay," she says.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.