Des Moines Police Department, Iowa
End of Watch: Saturday, March 26, 2016
Age: 34
Tour of Duty: 5 years, 5 months
Badge Number: 5172
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: March 26, 2016
Weapon Used: Automobile; Alcohol involved
Suspect Info: Killed in crash
Police Officer Carlos Puente-Morales and Police Officer Susan Farrell were killed when their patrol car was struck head-on by a wrong way, drunk driver on I-80, at mile marker 117.
They were transporting a prisoner from Council Bluffs back to Des Moines when the crash occurred. Both officers, the prisoner, and the driver of the wrong way vehicle were killed.
Officer Puente-Morales had served with the Des Moines Police Department for five months and had previously served with the Franklin County Sheriff's Department and the Ottumwa Police Department. He was a member of the Army National Guard.