Sioux County, Iowa — The firing of a former Sioux County Sheriff’s Deputy over an incident that took place this past March in Boyden, has been rescinded.
According to the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, former Sgt. Nathan Kelderman’s firing was rescinded and he tendered his resignation, effective March 29th, in an agreement between the Sheriff’s Office and Kelderman. Citing pending litigation, Kelderman declined to give KIWA any further information.
According to the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, the trouble started on Saturday, March 20, 2021. They say that about 6:15 p.m., Sgt. Kelderman was off duty and at his home in Boyden. Kelderman stated that a motorcycle drove past his home on the city street. He thought he recognized the driver as a person who did not have a motorcycle license. Kelderman also believed the driver was a person who lived nearby his residence. The Sheriff’s Office says Kelderman immediately went over to the suspected driver’s home on foot. Kelderman stated in his report and interview with command staff that the garage door of the suspect’s home was going down as he ran under it and into the garage. This caused the garage door to reverse and go back up. According to Kelderman, he was there to detain the suspect. The Sheriff’s Office says a physical altercation between Kelderman and the suspect, Nicholas Te Slaa immediately ensued in the garage.
They tell us the altercation continued out onto TeSlaa’s driveway. A neighbor saw it and called 911; several Sioux County Sheriff’s deputies were immediately dispatched. Te Slaa also made a 911 call. The son of the neighbor, who called 911, went over to the location of the altercation to break it up, says the Sheriff’s Office.
They tell us Kelderman stated that he went over to the suspect’s home without any identification, duty equipment, or method of communication. He was also in civilian attire, wearing a T-shirt, shorts, and tennis shoes.
Three sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene shortly after the 911 calls. Te Slaa was ultimately arrested and charged with careless driving, operating an unlicensed motor vehicle, operating a motorcycle without a valid motorcycle license, two counts of assault on a peace officer, interference with official acts, and criminal mischief causing damage.
When they were notified of the incident, the command staff at the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office immediately began an investigation into Sgt. Kelderman’s actions. On Monday, March 22, 2021, the sheriff’s office received three other complaints from civilians concerning Kelderman’s actions.
After a complete investigation by the sheriff’s office, it was determined Sgt. Kelderman had violated a sheriff’s office policy and training which prohibits an officer from this type of action when off duty. The command staff says the initial incident involved very minor traffic offenses and should have been reported to an on-duty deputy, per the sheriff’s office policy.
Sheriff Dan Altena stated, “Our policy is in place to prevent unnecessary danger or injury to officers, suspects, witnesses, or others. The violation of it caused preventable injuries and put witnesses, neighbors as well as responding officers in a bad position.”
Subsequently, Altena says Sgt. Nathan Kelderman was terminated from his employment at the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office on Monday, March 29, 2021. That termination has since been rescinded, with Kelderman tendering his resignation effective March 29th.
