Alleged killer of Iowa cops said to have abused, exploited mom
DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa man charged yesterday with killing two police officers was facing intense money problems, had been found by a judge to hit and financially exploit his mother and was ordered to move out of her basement hours before the slayings.
Scott Michael Greene, 46, was arrested yesterday afternoon after detectives questioned him at the Des Moines police station. Greene was secured with the handcuffs that had belonged to the patrolmen who were killed in ambush-style attacks, Des Moines Sgt. Anthony Beminio and Urbandale officer Justin Martin.
Greene was charged with two counts of firstdegree murder. If convicted, he would receive an automatic sentence of life in prison without parole.
Police said earlier yesterday that a search dog found a high-powered rifle that they believe Greene used to fire on the officers.
Greene, an unemployed father who lived in the Des Moines suburb of Urbandale, was increasingly desperate for money in recent weeks, court records show.
District Judge Carla Schemmel ruled Tuesday that Greene had committed elder abuse against his 66-year-old mother, Patricia Greene, by “physically hitting and financially exploiting” her. She ordered him to move out of his mother’s home, where he had been living in a basement bedroom, before Nov. 6 and to stay away for a year.
Patricia Greene had applied for the restraining order Oct. 19, two days after she was arrested and charged with striking her son in the face during an altercation that he had recorded with his cellphone.
Schemmel issued the permanent protective order during Tuesday’s hearing, where it was served on Scott Greene.
The order, which warned that any violations would lead to his arrest, also directed Greene to return $10,000 to his mother.
Beminio, 38, and Martin, 24, were shot after 1 a.m. Wednesday while sitting in their patrol cars in separate incidents less than 2 miles apart
Authorities say a motive for the shootings remains unclear.