An inmate accused of attempting to murder police during a standoff over a stolen dog tried to escape when he was being escorted from an offsite dental appointment in Iowa, according to a press release dated March 25 from the Linn County Sheriff's Office in Iowa.
Christopher Kern, 49, was returned to jail and charged with assault on persons in certain occupations with injury, interference with official acts with injury, and attempted escape. Kern has been in custody since February following an 11-hour standoff in which he shot at police offers after stealing his dog back from an animal rescue organization.
On the morning of March 25, peace officers escorted Kern and another inmate, who were wearing restraints, out of a practice in Cedar Rapids, IA, following dental procedures. While being escorted, Kern allegedly assaulted an officer, knocking him to the ground. The peace officers and a bystander struggled with Kern. Eventually, Kern was restrained, according to the press release.
Since February 20, 2025, Kern has been held in jail on a $100,000 cash bond following the standoff. On February 19, Kern allegedly had an 11-hour standoff with police at an apartment complex. Kern was on the run after allegedly stealing an injured dog from an animal rescue organization. Kern had owned the dog, but the animal was surrendered to the shelter after authorities responded to a call of shots being fired and found the dog had a gunshot wound, according to multiple news reports.
Kern is charged with three counts each of attempted murder of a peace officer, possession of firearms by a felon, interference with official acts with a dangerous weapon and assault on persons in certain occupations, two counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, and one count each of use of a dangerous weapon in the commission of a crime, going armed with intent, and persons ineligible to carry dangerous weapons. He is expected to plead guilty to charges related to the standoff, according to news reports.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
