Hearing set for Nora Springs man to change plea on charges including attempted murder

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Nora Springs man who was charged with attempted murder and several other felonies has had his trial postponed and a hearing date has been set for a plea change.

John Andrew Salocker, age 40, was charged in Floyd County District Court with attempted murder, a Class B felony; going armed with intent, a Class D felony; assault on persons in certain occupations (a county sheriff’s deputy), a Class D felony; eluding at more than 25 mph over the speed limit and while participating in a felony, a Class D felony; and first-degree harassment, an aggravated misdemeanor.

According to the criminal reports, Salocker got into a verbal altercation with a Rudd man and the man’s mother on the evening of Oct. 27, 2022, then got a .22 caliber rifle from his residence and drove to the Rudd man’s home.

Near the home, the Rudd man had been stopped in his own vehicle by a Floyd County deputy for a traffic violation. Salocker allegedly stopped his vehicle near them and fired a round from the rifle in the vicinity of the Rudd man and the deputy who had pulled him over.

An initial criminal complaint, on the felony eluding charge, filed by Floyd County Sheriff’s Deputy Luke Chatfield, said Chatfield had pulled over a vehicle for a traffic stop and another vehicle approached, stopping west of the deputy’s location, and then a shot was fired from the vehicle.

Chatfield, who is the county’s K9 officer, pursued the vehicle in a high speed chase through Floyd County until Salocker’s vehicle allegedly drove into a field and Salocker got out and entered a field of harvested corn. Chatfield’s K9, Sirius, identified an area where Salocker was, then Salocker was taken into custody when other law enforcement officers arrived to help with the search, a court document states.

Salocker had been scheduled to begin trial in Floyd County District Court on July 11, but that trial was continued to a later date and plea change hearing was set for July 24.

As of Monday no new written plea had been entered in the court records.