The Iowa Attorney General’s Office has concluded that law enforcement officers were legally justified in the fatal shooting of a Waterloo man along U.S. Highway 20 just into Black Hawk County near the Dike/New Hartford exit.
In findings released this week (1/15/26), Attorney General Brenna Bird determined that Grundy County Sheriff’s deputies Israel Ruiz and Carson Lutterman, along with Iowa State Patrol Trooper Trevor Ambrose, acted reasonably under Iowa law in the November 16, 2025 encounter with 47-year-old Benjamin Harold Sink of Waterloo.
Investigators found officers had disabled Sink’s vehicle with stop sticks after a pursuit that began in Grundy County. Once stopped on the shoulder of Highway 20, Sink exited his SUV with a handgun and fired at officers. Deputies and the trooper returned fire; Sink later died at the hospital. None of the officers were injured.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation reviewed body and vehicle camera footage, evidence from multiple agencies, and medical examiner findings before the Attorney General closed the investigation.
Our previous story on the shooting can be found here: https://www.radioonthego.com/2025/11/18/update-waterloo-man-identified-as-suspect-killed-in-highway-20-officer-involved-shooting-sunday/
The Attorney General’s Press Release investigation can be found here: iowa-attorney-generals-review-1-15-26
