On Sunday, September 27, 2009 around 12 pm, Waterloo Police officers investigated an assault that took place at 919 West 9th Street.  The suspect, later identified as 43-year-old Johnny Ray Dixon, entered the home of an ex-girlfriend around 2:00 am that morning and held the 42-year-old victim against her will.  The victim managed to escape the residence shortly before 12 pm and notified the Waterloo Police Department that Dixon was in the residence armed with a handgun.

The Waterloo Police Department Tactical Unit wound up entering the home, but Dixon was not located.  Officers have been attempting to locateDixon since that day.

On Tuesday, September 29, 2009 around 12:30 pm the Cedar Falls Police Department received information that Dixon was spotted on the bike trail near Look Out Park.  Officers from the Cedar Falls and Waterloo Police Departments and the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office began checking the area and found Dixon in a wooded area along the Cedar River west of Shirey Way and North Hackett Road around 1:30 pm.

When officers approached Dixon, he threatened to harm himself with a handgun that he had in his possession.  Officers established a perimeter and began talking with Dixon encouraging him to give himself up.

Around 3:15 pm, despite officers efforts to have Dixon give himself up, Dixon shot himself.  Waterloo Fire Rescue paramedics transported Dixon to Allen Hospital where he was then airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City in critical condition.

The investigation into this incident continues.  No more information will be released at this this time.

Captain John Beckman
Waterloo Police Department
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