An Iowa regulatory board is launching legal action against the Burlington Police Department and other agencies for refusing to release video showing a police officer mistakenly gun down a woman instead of the family dog.
Officer Jesse Hill shot and killed Autumn Steele, 34, in Jan. 2015 after responding to a domestic disturbance call. Steele, was apparently hitting and screaming at her husband, Gabriel, outside of their home when Hill arrived, according to the Des Moines Register. Steele’s 3-year-old son was also outside the home at the time of incident.
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The woman spent the previous night in jail after allegedly assaulting her husband
Body cam footage shows Hill approach the woman who appeared to have been arguing with her husband.
“He’s got my kid,” Steele yells as the officer approaches her while a growling dog is heard in the background.
“Get your dog,” the officer said in the video. More growling is heard in the video before the sounds of two gunshots.
According to police, Hill fired his gun when the family’s pet German shepherd jumped on the officer’s back and allegedly bit him. However, the bullets hit Steele instead.
According to the Des Moines Register, Steele’s family had been seeking the release of a number of files in the case, including unedited dash cam, body cam footage and 911 transcripts. The police department and the Des Moines County attorney claimed all evidence was turned over to investigators and the information could not have been made public.
Last week, the Iowa Public Information Board, which oversees the state’s open record laws, voted to pursue charges against a number of agencies including the Burlington Police Department and Des Moines County attorney.
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