Patrolman James Staggs was killed in an accident while attempting to pull over a drunk driver.

He and another officer were transporting a prisoner to jail when they noticed a car weaving back and forth across the roadway. Thinking the driver was drunk they pulled next to his vehicle to tell him to pull over. The driver suddenly veered towards the police car, causing Patrolman Staggs to swerve into the path of an oncoming streetcar. Patrolman Staggs was killed almost instantly.

Patrolman Staggs had served with the Des Moines Police Department for five years.