DAVENPORT, Iowa -- A Davenport man convicted of attempted murder was sentenced to serve up to 58 years in prison.
The sentence was handed down in Scott County Court Thursday, August 9, by District Court Judge Thomas Reidel.
Logan Shoemaker was on trial in June for the September 2017 crash that left Buffalo Police Chief T.J. Behning seriously injured. A jury found Shoemaker guilty of attempted murder, eluding, willful injury causing a serious injury, and first-degree robbery.
Previous reports indicate that Shoemaker had been on a high-speed chase with police. Chief Behning was standing outside his squad vehicle on Highway 22 and threw stop sticks to try and stop the chase. That's when a garbage truck that Shoemaker was driving plowed into Chief Behning’s squad vehicle, seriously injuring the chief.
The sentence was close to the max of 60 possible on the charges and was handed down despite Chief Behning saying he held no anger or animosity toward Shoemaker, despite being seriously injured.
"I probably should be mad at you, but I’m not," Chief Behning said prior to the sentencing. "I feel terrible for everyone. Especially my family and your family. I want you to know I don’t have any resentment. We knew the rules and we both got hurt.”
Judge Reidel, however, said the fact Shoemaker had served prison time in the past, made poor choices while on probation and still participated in a multi-day crime spree that negatively impacted more than 100 people, meant a severe sentence was warranted.
"Your complete lack of concern for everyone but yourself shows a level of depravity I've seldom seen," he said. "You've not done well on probation, you've been in prison and despite this, you did not do anything to alter your behaviors."
Shoemaker's mother, Andrea Yates, said she knows her son deserves prison time, but asked the judge to take into account his addiction problems when handing down the sentence. She also told Chief Behning she has been praying for his recovery and his family.
"You're not the monster you are accused of being," she said, looking at Logan. "I hope T.J. and his family know I pray every day for his recovery."
Under the terms of the sentencing, Shoemaker will spend a minimum of 25 years in prison before being eligible for parole. He was also ordered to pay thousands of dollars in fines and victim restitution.
