A veteran of 13 years with law enforcement experience in both Dallas and Rusk County, Iversen chose to retire after the incident. He also mounted legal efforts to prevent the release of the dashcam footage.
In his statement to investigators, Iversen explained that he had heightened vigilance due to the area’s reputation for drug trafficking.
When Randall adjusted his waistband, the officer interpreted it as the potential presence of a weapon: “I didn’t want to end up on my knees, vulnerable, with a guy who might have a gun in his waistband.”
Iversen said. “My survival instincts took over — I drew and fired once.”
It was later determined that the object that prompted the deadly misunderstanding was not a weapon, but a glasses case containing a methamphetamine pipe.
