Cedar Falls Man Charged Weeks After Apparent 'Suicide-by-Cop Scheme'

A Cedar Falls man who was shot by police in May after allegedly pushing officers to kill him has been arrested and charged after being released from the hospital.

Richard Allen Anderson, 39, was charged with interference with official acts while displaying a dangerous weapon, a Class D felony.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier cites court records alleging that Anderson called 911 anonymously identifying a suspicious person with a knife. The Courier reports it was "part of a scheme to commit suicide by cop."

On May 15, just after 1 p.m., Waterloo police responded to a 911 call describing a white man with a knife making statements indicating he, "would not be taken alive."

Investigators with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said officers found Anderson in the 200 block of East Fourth Street in Waterloo, where he was carrying a knife and repeatedly yelling at officers, demanding they shoot him. Investigators said Anderson refused to follow the officers’ repeated commands to drop the knife and advanced toward the officers.

Investigators said officers eventually fired on Anderson to mitigate the threat he posed to himself and the officers. Anderson was shot multiple times before receiving emergency medical treatment. His injuries were serious and he remained hospitalized until this arrest.

Authorities said they later learned Anderson was the original 911 caller.

Anderson is currently being held on $100,000 bond at the Black Hawk County Jail.

After the shooting incident all officers involved were interviewed. One officer was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.