Gun Battle Between Iowa Cop & Man With SKS Assault Rifle Caught On Tape [Video]

Video After The Jump

Police dash cam footage captured the moment Maquoketa, Iowa Police Sgt. Brendan Zeimet nearly lost his life in a gun battle with a deranged man with an assault rifle.

Zeimet noticed 30-year old Aaron E. Scott parked in the wrong direction on the side of the road at 3 a.m. on April 1. As he approached the vehicle Scott exited it with an assault rifle in hand. Zeimet saw Scott's weapon and opened fire, sparking a gun battle between the two.

“Scott discharged his SKS assault weapon at least 14 times and as many as 19 times,” investigators told WQAD.

Aaron E. Scott died from a self-inflicted gunshot following shootout with police.

Zeimet was hit in the forearm and Scott was shot in the leg. The officer was cleared of any wrongdoing following an investigation

"It's not until Sgt. Zeimet gets closer, about 5 to 8 feet away and clears his door and he sees Aaron Scott holding the assault rile," Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations Agent Matt George told KCRG-TV.

After the gun battle Scott hopped back into his truck and took off. He was later found dead inside his overturned truck from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Police say Scott had a history of mental illness and alcohol abuse. He had an argument with his girlfriend the night of the confrontation with police, which may have caused his erratic behavior.

The dash cam video was released Monday, April 14, as part of the conclusion into an investigation into the incident.