Man Accused of Killing North Iowa Police Officer Pleads Not Guilty

A man charged with murdering a north Iowa police officer almost a month ago has entered a not guilty plea.

43-year-old Kyle Ricke of Algona is accused of shooting Algona Police Officer Kevin Cram to death on September 13th, as Cram was attempting to serve a warrant for Ricke’s arrest. Ricke was found and apprehended in Minnesota about four hours after the shooting. 

Ricke has been charged with first-degree murder, a Class A felony. He has pleaded not guilty and his trial has been scheduled for December 12th in Kossuth County District Court.

Conviction carries a sentence of life in prison. 

Ricke is being held at the Kossuth County Jail in Algona on a $2 million cash-only bond.

Prior to joining the Algona Police Department, the 33-year-old Cram was an officer with Nora Springs Police from 2013 to 2015.

Ricke is also due in court November 3rd for a non-jury trial for third-degree harassment. In August, his ex-girlfriend contacted the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office saying she had wanted no contact with Ricke by any means. A review of her cell phone showed several missed calls from Ricke and 63 unread text messages from him in a two-hour period.