Video: Stuck Sioux City Iowa Police Officer Fires on Driver as Car Takes Off

By Dolly A. Butz

Source Sioux City Journal, Iowa

SIOUX CITY, IA — The fatal shooting of a Hull, Iowa, man by a Sioux City police officer in February was "legally justified," Woodbury County Attorney James Loomis said Friday.

Vicente Manzo Hernandez, 30, was shot at about 3:38 a.m. on Feb. 22 in the 200 block of 18th St., after a traffic stop. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Loomis said Hernandez tried to force his way into a position to take control of a 2000 Chevrolet Impala, which he was initially a passenger in, despite the officer entering the car and ordering him to get back.

The car continued to accelerate, with the officer stuck and unable to get free. Loomis said the officer was "at a very real risk of being dragged down the street or run over by the car" due to Hernandez's actions.

"The use of deadly force was justified to put an end to that immediate danger. Therefore, I conclude that criminal charges are not warranted. I consider this investigation to be closed," Loomis said during a news conference at police headquarters, which was held to present the findings of the Iowa Attorney General's Office, Woodbury County Attorney's Office and Sioux City Police Department. The names of the officers involved in the incident were not revealed.

Police Chief Rex Mueller said officers "have seconds to determine a course of action." He said he applauds the officers for trying to put an end to it by "engaging with the suspect, trying to get him out of the vehicle, deflating the tires."

"By all accounts, the officers were doing everything they could to make sure that this suspect didn't flee and endanger other lives," he said.

Loomis said officers recognized the Impala from previous eluding incidents, when it was being driven eastbound on 14th Street by Tara Bulizak. Bulizak was not charged in connection with this incident.

"Miss Bulizak is known by officers to associate with dangerous felons who are involved with firearms. Her car was frequently seen in high drug-trafficking areas, and was seen in a recent drive-by shooting," he said.

Loomis said the primary officer saw the car and contacted a secondary officer for assistance, as he intended to stop the car for the license plate light being out.

The primary officer initiated the traffic stop and approached the car on the driver's side. He asked Bulizak for her license, registration and proof of insurance. While the primary officer was waiting for the requested information, Loomis said the secondary officer noticed Hernandez texting his girlfriend through the front passenger window.

"His girlfriend told him he should not give the officer his name. He quietly told the primary officer about these text messages," said Loomis, who said Bulizak was able to provide her registration and began looking on her phone for her driver's license and proof of insurance.

The primary officer took the registration back to his patrol car to verify the information through dispatch. At that time, he also requested a K9 unit. The secondary officer, who remained at the passenger side of the car Bulizak was driving, asked Hernandez for his name, which Loomis said he refused to provide.

"The secondary officer recognized Mr. Hernandez from a traffic stop in January 2025, in which a quarter pound of methamphetamine was seized and both parties in the car were arrested. During that traffic stop, Mr. Hernandez claimed to only speak Spanish," said Loomis, who said the officer, who could not remember Hernandez's name, relayed this information to the primary officer.

A records check of that January traffic stop indicated the passenger was Hernandez. Loomis said the officers were able to access a booking photo from the previous arrest and "observed the distinctive tattoo on Mr. Hernandez's neck."

"While checking the identity of Mr. Hernandez, they learned that he had a warrant for his arrest that was issued on Feb. 21, 2025. The warrant involved his failure to appear for a pending felony drug case," he said. "Now, knowing they had a wanted subject, both officers intended to get Mr. Hernandez out of the car, secure him in handcuffs, confirm his identity and take him into custody for the warrant."

Both officers approached the passenger side of the car. The secondary officer attempted to open the passenger side door, but Loomis said it was locked. He said the officer calmly asked Hernandez to step out of the car. The officer tried the door handle again, but Loomis said it remained locked. The officer crouched down to see directly into the passenger window and could see Bulizak talking to Hernandez, but he could not hear what they were saying.

"Mr. Hernandez rolled the window down, and made eye contact with the officer, and he was directed to again step out of the car, but he would not," Loomis said.

The primary officer then walked around the rear of the car to the driver's side and shone his flashlight inside the car. He attempted to open the door, which was locked. He asked Bulizak to unlock the door and told her Hernandez had a warrant. By that time, Hernandez had pulled his window back up and began arguing with Bulizak. Loomis said officers were concerned they were going to attempt to flee the scene in the car.

Hernandez rolled the window down slightly, asked if he was going to jail and if he had a warrant. Loomis said the secondary officer told him there was a warrant they needed to address.

"In response, Mr. Hernandez rolled the window back up and did not unlock the door. Mr. Hernandez and Miss Bulizak continued to argue," Loomis said. "The secondary officer then saw Mr. Hernandez grab the gear shift lever of the car, but was unable to get it into drive. He shouted at the primary officer to warn him the car may take off."

With his flashlight in his left hand, the primary officer then drew his firearm with his right hand and ordered the occupants out of the car. Still concerned the occupants would flee in the vehicle, the secondary officer deflated the rear and front passenger tires.

"Suddenly at that same time, Miss Bulizak flung open the front passenger door and jumped out of the car. Simultaneously, Mr. Hernandez from the passenger seat and the primary officer from the driver's side door attempted to get into the driver's seat to gain control of the car. He ordered Mr. Hernandez to get back, but got no reaction," Loomis said. "He then struck Mr. Hernandez in the face with his fist to gain compliance and keep Mr. Hernandez from gaining control of the car."

Loomis said Hernandez continued to resist and use his body to push back. Hernandez was able to get his leg over the console area into the driver's area enough to reach the gas pedal. The car began to move forward with the primary officer partially in the car.

"His left leg was caught inside, while his right leg was outside on the ground," Loomis said of the officer, who was unable to get his left leg free. "As the car kept moving forward, the engine revved, and the car started to accelerate to the point where his right leg was no longer able to keep up, and he feared being drug or run over by the car."

As the car began to speed forward, neither Hernandez nor the officer had control of the steering wheel. Loomis said the officer was in "serious danger."

"The officer fired two shots with his firearm to incapacitate Mr. Hernandez and get the car stopped," he said. "After the shots were fired, the officer fell and rolled from the car."

The primary officer was able to get up and radio out that shots had been fired. Loomis said Hernandez acknowledged that he had been shot and told officers that his body was numb. He said both officers immediately administered first aid, after notifying dispatch they needed medical on scene.

Loomis said Bulizak confirmed during an interview that Hernandez was concerned about his arrest warrant and wanted her to drive away, but she refused to. He also said blood toxicology testing, which was part of an autopsy the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner performed on Hernandez, revealed Hernandez had fentanyl and "high levels" of methamphetamine in his bloodstream at the time of his death.

"Sadly, incidents like this result in challenges to all who responded, as well as the families involved," said Mueller, who extended condolences to Hernandez's family. "I'm constantly amazed at the professionalism of our officers. And every day, they go out there and place themselves in harm's way, most of the time, for people they don't even know. So in this instance, this highlights how difficult this job can be."

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