(CNN) A suspect in Wednesday morning's apparent ambush killings of two Iowa police officers was taken into custody hours later, after he flagged down a natural resources officer a county away from where the killings occurred, police said.

Investigators believe Scott Michael Greene, 46, shot Urbandale police Officer Justin Martin and Des Moines police Sgt. Anthony "Tony" Beminio while they sat in squad vehicles at intersections roughly 2 miles apart shortly after 1 a.m., authorities said.

Greene, of Urbandale, was taken into custody later that morning after he flagged down a state Department of Natural Resources officer while walking on a gravel road in Dallas County and asked him to call 911, police said.

Greene was not charged in the killings as of noon, but he is "suspected of doing this," Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek said, citing unspecified tips and leads.

Urbandale police said they had interacted with Greene before, including about two weeks ago, when they told him to leave a high school football game.

But Parizek said there was nothing to immediately indicate that Martin or Beminio had any previous contact with him.

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Nor did it appear the officers had much warning that someone was about to shoot them, Parizek said.

"On the surface right now ... it doesn't look like there was any interaction between these officers and whoever the coward is that shot them while they sat in their cars," Parizek said, holding back tears, before Greene was named a suspect.

Greene was taken to a hospital after complaining of an issue with an existing medical condition, and detectives are expected to interrogate him, Parizek said.

'These guys were ... doing nothing wrong'

Police discovered Martin's body about 1:05 a.m., after residents reported shots being fired. Martin's body was seated in his squad car, at an Urbandale intersection just northwest of Des Moines, Parizek said.

JUST WATCHED Slain officers identified in Iowa shootings Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Slain officers identified in Iowa shootings 01:17

Twenty minutes later, as officers responded to the Urbandale shooting, Beminio was found shot in his squad vehicle, at an intersection in Des Moines.

Beminio died at a hospital, Parizek said. He said both officers were on patrol. Neither was responding to a service call, and neither had radioed about a confrontation.

Gov. Branstad, @IALtGov have been briefed by @IowaDPS on early morning attack on 2 police officers - https://t.co/NO0CZlEnhR #iagov — Terry Branstad (@TerryBranstad) November 2, 2016

"In all appearances it looks ... that these officers were ambushed," Parizek said.

"These guys were gunned down sitting in their car, doing nothing wrong."

Investigators believe "over 15 and under 30" shots were fired at Martin alone, Urbandale police Chief Ross McCarty said.

Greene told to leave game after waving Confederate flag, police say

Urbandale police had asked Greene to leave a high school football game about two weeks ago, prompting him to complain that police were infringing on his rights, McCarty told reporters.

Greene was asked to leave after he waved a Confederate flag in front of "people of color" during the national anthem, and other people complained it was offensive, McCarty said.

Thank you to our community for the outpouring of support. We are beyond blessed to serve the community of Urbandale. pic.twitter.com/0qZxhhjJzx — Urbandale Police (@UrbandalePolice) November 2, 2016

"He said he was invoking his First Amendment rights, and we were trampling on them," McCarty said.

Greene left school property but used public sidewalks to "continue his demonstration," McCarty said.

Police warned Greene to "cease and desist," and he afterward was negotiating with the school about when he'd be permitted at the school, which his daughter attends, the chief said.

Greene is white, as were Martin and Beminio, police said.

Investigators don't know of a motive in Wednesday's shootings, Parizek said.

Tearful embrace as Des Moines area mourns again

The shootings bring renewed pain to a community that recently mourned the deaths of two other Des Moines police officers. They were killed in March when their vehicle was hit head-on by a driver going the wrong way, police said.

UPD is saddened to report that an Urbandale Officer was killed in the line of duty overnight. Updates will be posted as available. pic.twitter.com/oGTvaAfjxZ — Urbandale Police (@UrbandalePolice) November 2, 2016

As news of the shootings spread, a woman gave bottled water and other supplies to an Urbandale police officer who was standing along a street, and tearfully gave him a hug, video from CNN affiliate KCCI showed

"I want you to go home to your families, because I want my dad to come home to me and I want my friends to come home to me, and I'm sorry," she said.

'A great friend to a lot of us'

Parizek, the Des Moines police spokesman, choked up as he spoke of Beminio, an 11-year veteran of the force who once worked under Parizek's patrol.

Beminio, married with children, had been a school resource officer and a robbery homicide detective, and was recently promoted.

"A great friend to a lot of us," Parizek said.

Martin, 24, had just finished academy and field training this year, McCarty said.

"We had high expectations (for) his future, and it's tragic it's been cut short," the chief said.

The Urbandale Police Department, a force of about 50 officers, said it believes this is the first officer it has lost in the line of duty.

Highest number of officers shot dead since 2011

Wednesday's deaths bring to at least 52 the number of police officers fatally shot in the line of duty in the United States and Puerto Rico in 2016, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund . That's the highest one-year total since 2011, when 73 were shot dead, the fund says.

They also come just months after two high-profile deadly surprise attacks against police officers in Texas and Louisiana.

On July 7, a gunman shot and killed five police officers in Dallas during a protest of controversial police shootings of black men in other states. The Dallas shooter, who police subsequently killed, said he was upset with the other shootings, police said.

On July 17, gunman Gavin Long shot six law officers, killing three , in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, police say. A SWAT officer subsequently shot and killed Long.

JUST WATCHED 2 cops killed in apparent ambush attacks Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH 2 cops killed in apparent ambush attacks 01:28

Long apparently visited Dallas after the shootings there, posting a YouTube video July 10 in which he spoke of the protests, and a notion that victims of bullying need to resort to brute force.</s>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police in Des Moines, Iowa, say 2 officers have been shot and killed in ambush-style attacks.</s>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police in Des Moines, Iowa, say 2 officers killed in ambush-style attacks were sitting in their patrol cars when shot.</s>A police officer stands guard in the street at the scene of a shooting, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016, in Urbandale, Iowa. Two Des Moines area police officers were shot to death early Wednesday in ambush-style attacks while they were sitting in their patrol cars.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Two Des Moines area police officers were shot to death early Wednesday in separate ambush-style attacks while they were sitting in their patrol cars, and police said they are searching for a known suspect.

Officers responded to a report of shots fired at 1:06 a.m. and found an Urbandale Police Department officer who had been shot. Authorities from several agencies saturated the area after that shooting, and about 20 minutes later discovered that a Des Moines officer had been shot in a patrol car at an intersection, Des Moines Sgt. Paul Parizek said. The shootings happened less than 2 miles apart and both took place along main streets that cut through residential areas.

"There's somebody out there shooting police officers. We hope to find him before somebody else gets hurt," said Parizek, who stopped briefly during a news conference as he worked to control his emotions.

The shootings follow a spate of police killings, including ambushes of officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Five officers were killed in Dallas on July 7 and three were killed later that month in Baton Rouge.

Des Moines and Urbandale Police later said in a statement that they have identified 46-year-old Scott Michael Greene as a suspect in the killings, describing him as armed and dangerous and urging members of the public to not approach him.

Police described Greene, of Urbandale, as white, 5' 11" and 180 lbs with brown hair and green eyes, last known to be driving a blue 2011 Ford F-150 with Iowa license plate 780 YFR. Police did not explain how they identified Greene as a suspect.

"There is a clear and present danger to police officers," Parizek said. He said officers are now conducting patrols in pairs for protection.

Urbandale Sgt. Chad Underwood said he believes this is the first time an officer in his department has been shot in the line of duty.

Urbandale officers are equipped with body cameras, but they don't run constantly and it's unclear whether there was video of the shootings.

The attacks on police this summer in Dallas and Baton Rouge came in the wake of several high-profile police shootings of black men, fueling a national debate about police use of force, especially against minorities — a frequent topic in the nation's presidential race.

Republican nominee Donald Trump has argued that police need the freedom to use greater force, while Democrat Hillary Clinton has taken a more nuanced position of supporting officers while also calling for restraint when dealing with minority communities. The most divisive general election in memory is just six days away.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad called the killings Wednesday, "an attack on the public safety of all Iowans."

"We call on Iowans to support our law enforcement officials in bringing this suspect to justice. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the police officers who were tragically killed in the line of duty as well as the officers who continue to put themselves in harm's way."

Urbandale is a suburb of about 40,000 people in the Des Moines metro area with about 50 officers. Officials in Urbandale cancelled school for the day. Des Moines has about 375 sworn officers.</s>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police in Des Moines, Iowa, say two officers have been shot and killed in ambush-style attacks.

The Des Moines Police Department said in a news release that the shootings took place early Wednesday. Officers responded to a report of shots fired at about 1:06 a.m. and found an Urbandale Police Department officer who had been shot.

Des Moines officers responded to assist. About 20 minutes later, a Des Moines officer was found shot. Both officers have died.

The Des Moines Police Department said suspect information is being developed. The agency didn't immediately release any other information but said a news conference was planned for 5 a.m.</s>Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek speaks during a news conference Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016, at Des Moines police headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa. Authorities say two police officers in the Des Moines, Iowa, area were shot to death in ambush-style attacks about 2 miles apart. (AP Photo/Scott McFetridge) A police officer sits in his car at the scene of a shooting, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016, in Urbandale, Iowa. Two Des Moines area police officers were shot to death early Wednesday in ambush-style attacks while they were sitting in their patrol cars, and police are searching for suspects, authorities said. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) A police officer stands guard in the street at the scene of a shooting, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016, in Urbandale, Iowa. Two Des Moines area police officers were shot to death early Wednesday in ambush-style attacks while they were sitting in their patrol cars, and police are searching for suspects, authorities said. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) Law enforcement officials investigate at the scene of a shooting, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016, in Urbandale, Iowa. Two Des Moines area police officers were shot to death early Wednesday in ambush-style attacks while they were sitting in their patrol cars, and police are searching for suspects, authorities said. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

DES MOINES, Iowa | Two Des Moines area police officers were shot to death early Wednesday in ambush-style attacks while they were sitting in their patrol cars, and police are searching for suspects, authorities said.

Officers responded to a report of shots fired at 1:06 a.m. and found an Urbandale Police Department officer who had been shot. Authorities from several agencies saturated the area after that shooting, and about 20 minutes later discovered that a Des Moines officer had been shot in a patrol car at an intersection, Des Moines Sgt. Paul Parizek said. The shootings happened about 2 miles apart and both took place along main streets that cut through residential areas.

“There’s somebody out there shooting police officers. We hope to find him before somebody else gets hurt,” said Parizek, who stopped briefly during a news conference as he worked to control his emotions.

The shootings follow a spate of police killings, including ambushes of officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Five officers were killed in Dallas on July 7 and three were killed later that month in Baton Rouge.

Authorities in Iowa are developing suspect information but they have nothing that they are ready to share with the public, Parizek said. Officers are now conducting patrols in pairs for protection, he said.

“There is a clear and present danger to police officers,” Parizek said.

Parizek said he wouldn’t release more information about the shootings.

Urbandale Sgt. Chad Underwood said Urbandale officers are equipped with body cameras, but they don’t run constantly and it’s unclear whether there was video of the shootings.

Urbandale is a suburb of about 40,000 people in the Des Moines metro area with about 50 officers. Officials in Urbandale cancelled school for the day.</s>DES MOINES, Iowa, - Police in Iowa said on Wednesday they have captured a man suspected of killing two police officers hours earlier as they sat in their patrol cars in what authorities called separate and unprovoked attacks.

Scott Michael Greene, who is 46 and white, was taken into custody after police named him as their suspect in the ambushes, a police spokeswoman in Urbandale, Iowa said.

Police said they found the first slain officer's body about 1:06 a.m. in Urbandale, an affluent Des Moines suburb, and the second about 20 minutes later about two miles (3 km) away, in Des Moines. Police declined to release the names of the officers awaiting notification of their families.

It was unclear what provoked Wednesday's attacks, Des Moines police department spokesman Paul Parizek told a news conference prior to Greene's arrest, adding that "we may never know." But it appeared the suspect had a recent run-in with police.

A 10-minute video posted on YouTube last month by a user calling himself Scott Greene showed an interaction with officers following an incident at a sports stadium in which he described holding up a Confederate battle flag during the playing of the U.S. national anthem. He is heard claiming that he was assaulted.

Reuters was unable to immediately confirm whether the video was made by the suspect, whose face does not appear in it. It records a male voice arguing with police over the incident.

The Confederate flag is a racially charged symbol for its association with the pro-slavery South in the U.S. Civil War.

DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) - Police in Iowa were searching for a suspect on Wednesday hours after two police officers were killed in separate "ambush-style" shootings as they sat in their squad cars.

Police are searching for a local man named Scott Michael Greene, 46, who should be consider armed and dangerous, TV station KCCI reported. They released a photo showing the suspect, a white man with a light beard, and described him as "armed and dangerous."

One officer was found dead about 1 a.m. local time in Urbandale, an affluent suburb of Des Moines. The second officer was found dead about 1:30 a.m. local time in the city, NBC News reported.

"These officers were ambushed," Des Moines police department spokesman Paul Parizek told a news conference, adding that they were shot while sitting in their patrol cars about 2 miles (3 km) apart.

"There is a clear and present danger to police officers right now," he said.

The apparently unprovoked attack comes two years after two New York Police Department officers were shot dead while sitting in their patrol car in Brooklyn, by a man who said he wanted to avenge the deaths of unarmed black men killed by police.

A police cruiser at the site of the Des Moines shooting was riddled with three bullet holes, according to a Reuters witness there.

Police were conducting a manhunt for the suspect or suspects throughout the area, Parizek said.

"An attack on public safety officers is an attack on the public safety of all Iowans," Ben Hammes, a spokesman for Governor Terry Branstand, said in a statement. "We call on Iowans to support our law enforcement officials in bringing this suspect to justice."

Before the shootings in Iowa, 50 police officers had died by gunfire, two accidentally, in the line of duty in the United States this year, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page website.

"To see this pattern that is developing - that's what's unconscionable," said House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan during an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt. "If it's a random, mentally ill person, it's one thing. But it's people consciously going out and doing this.

"We have a lot of work to do in our communities to heal."

Wednesday's shootings come seven months after two Des Moines officers were killed when their vehicle was hit by a wrong-way drunken driver. Another Des Moines police officer died in a motorcycle accident in August.

Officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, were the targets of deadly ambushes earlier this year after police killed two black men in separate incidents in a Minnesota suburb and Baton Rouge. Philadelphia police officers have been deliberately targeted by a gunman twice this year.</s>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two Des Moines area police officers were shot to death while sitting in their patrol cars early Wednesday in what authorities described as separate ambush-style attacks, and police said they are searching for a known suspect.

Officers responded to a report of shots fired at 1:06 a.m. and found an Urbandale Police Department officer who had been shot. Authorities from several agencies saturated the area after that shooting, and about 20 minutes later discovered that a Des Moines officer who had responded to the initial killing had been shot in a patrol car at an intersection, Des Moines Sgt. Paul Parizek said. The shootings happened less than 2 miles apart and both took place along main streets that cut through residential areas.

“There’s somebody out there shooting police officers. We hope to find him before somebody else gets hurt,” said Parizek, who stopped briefly during a news conference as he worked to control his emotions.

The shootings follow a spate of police killings, including ambushes of officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Five officers were killed in Dallas on July 7 and three were killed later that month in Baton Rouge.

Des Moines and Urbandale Police later said they have identified 46-year-old Scott Michael Greene as a suspect in the killings, describing him as armed and dangerous and urging members of the public to not approach him if they see him, but to call 911.

Parizek said investigators determined Greene was a suspect through “a series of leads and investigative tips.”

Police described Greene, of Urbandale, as white, 5′ 11″ and 180 lbs with brown hair and green eyes, last known to be driving a blue 2011 Ford F-150 with Iowa license plate 780 YFR.

“There is a clear and present danger to police officers,” Parizek said. He said officers are now conducting patrols in pairs for protection.

Urbandale Sgt. Chad Underwood said he believes this is the first time an officer in his department has been shot in the line of duty.

Wednesday marked the first time a Des Moines police officer has been shot and killed on duty since 1977, when two died in separate incidents months apart, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety. With Wednesday’s deaths, 113 Iowa officers have died in the line of duty in 2016, according to preliminary data from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Fifty-one of those deaths were firearms-related, a spike from last year that the group has blamed on an uptick in ambush-style killings. That number has already surpassed the total number of officers fatally shot in each of the prior four years, but is on pace to fall short of the 73 fatally shot in 2011.

Urbandale is a suburb of about 40,000 people in the Des Moines metro area with about 50 officers. Des Moines, a city of about 210,000, has about 375 sworn officers.

Urbandale officers are equipped with body cameras, but they don’t run constantly and it’s unclear whether there was video of the shootings.

The attacks on police this summer in Dallas and Baton Rouge came in the wake of several high-profile police shootings of black men, fueling a national debate about police use of force, especially against minorities — a frequent topic in the nation’s presidential race.

Republican nominee Donald Trump has argued that police need the freedom to use greater force, while Democrat Hillary Clinton has taken a more nuanced position of supporting officers while calling attention to what she and others have called examples of bias in policing.

Parizek said investigators have no idea what led to the killings, and he speculated that they may never be sure about the shooter’s motivations.

He said the officers’ deaths are a blow to all officers in the Des Moines area.

“They are our friends and co-workers,” he said. “Des Moines is not a big city. We all know each other. We’re heart broken.”

Asked at a news conference about a video on social media that appeared to show a man identified as Greene being removed from a high school football game, Parizek said he was aware of the video but hadn’t seen it and couldn’t comment.

Court records show Greene was jailed and charged with interference with official acts after resisting Urbandale police officers trying to pat him for a weapon on April 10, 2014. An Urbandale officer described him as hostile and combative. He entered a guilty plea and was fined.

Two days later Urbandale police were called to answer a complaint of harassment at the apartment complex where Greene lived. The complaint said he threatened to kill another man during a confrontation in the parking lot. He was charged with harassment.

He pleaded guilty and received a suspended jail sentence and a year of probation. Court records show he completed a substance abuse and psychological evaluation.</s>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Latest on two officers in the Des Moines, Iowa, area who were killed in what authorities describe as ambush-style attacks (all times local):

Police say the suspect in the killings of two Des Moines area police officers is in custody.

Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek says Scott Michael Greene was taken into custody without incident Wednesday morning in Dallas County, just west of Des Moines.

Greene is suspected in the killing of a Des Moines police officer and an Urbandale police officer earlier Wednesday.

The man wanted in connection with the killing of two Des Moines area police officers has a record of confrontation with police and others.

Iowa court records show 46-year-old Scott Michael Greene, of Urbandale, was jailed and charged with interference with official acts after resisting Urbandale police officers trying to pat him down for a weapon on April 10, 2014. A complaint signed by an Urbandale officer says Greene resisted verbal commands, was hostile and combative. It says he was known to be armed. He entered a guilty plea and was fined.

Two days later Urbandale police were called to answer a complaint of harassment at the apartment complex where Greene lived. The complaint says he threatened to kill another man during a confrontation in the parking lot. He was charged with harassment, pleaded guilty and received a suspended jail sentence and a year of probation.

Des Moines police say Greene is a suspect in the shootings early Wednesday in Des Moines and the suburb of Urbandale.

Police say a "series of leads and investigative tips" led them to identify a suspect in the killing of two Des Moines area police officers.

Des Moines Sgt. Paul Parizek wouldn't give details about how investigators determined 46-year-old Scott Michael Greene, of Urbandale, was a suspect in the separate shootings early Wednesday in Des Moines and the suburb of Urbandale.

Parizek says officers don't know where Greene is located.

Police have closed long stretches of the roads, about two miles apart, where the officers were found in their cars.

The Urbandale officer was dead at the scene and the Des Moines officer died at a hospital.

Police say they have identified a suspect in the early morning killing of two Des Moines area police officers, warning he is likely armed and should be considered dangerous.

Police said in a statement Wednesday that they are hunting for 46-year-old Scott Michael Greene, of Urbandale.

He is described as white, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 180 pounds with brown hair and green eyes. He was last known to be driving a blue 2011 Ford F-150 pickup truck with Iowa license plates 780 YFR.

The truck is equipped with a ladder rack.

Investigators identified Greene as a suspect as they scrambled to respond to the killings of officers in Urbandale and Des Moines in separate shootings.

Police in Des Moines, Iowa, say two officers who were killed in ambush-style attacks were both shot while they were sitting in their patrol cars.

Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek said Wednesday that authorities are developing suspect information but there was nothing that authorities were ready to share with the public.

Parizek was emotional during a news conference. He says there is "clearly danger" right now for police officers in the area because the officers were gunned down while sitting in their cars doing nothing wrong. He says the department has doubled up its officers to better protect them.

The first officer, an Urbandale officer, was shot about 1:06 a.m. About 20 minutes later, a Des Moines officer was found shot about 2 miles away.

Authorities say two police officers in the Des Moines, Iowa, area were shot to death in ambush-style attacks about 2 miles apart.

The Des Moines Police Department said in a news release that officers responded to a report of shots fired at about 1:06 a.m. and found an Urbandale Police Department officer who had been shot.

Des Moines officers responded to help. About 20 minutes later, a Des Moines officer was found shot about 2 miles away. Both officers have died.

The Des Moines Police Department said suspect information is being developed. The agency didn't immediately release any other information but said a news conference was planned for 5 a.m.

Urbandale is a city in the Des Moines metro area.

Police in Des Moines, Iowa, say two officers have been shot and killed in ambush-style attacks.

The Des Moines Police Department said in a news release that the shootings took place early Wednesday. Officers responded to a report of shots fired at about 1:06 a.m. and found an Urbandale Police Department officer who had been shot.

Des Moines officers responded to assist. About 20 minutes later, a Des Moines officer was found shot. Both officers have died.

The Des Moines Police Department said suspect information is being developed. The agency didn't immediately release any other information but said a news conference was planned for 5 a.m.</s>DES MOINES, Iowa — Two Des Moines area police officers were shot to death early Wednesday in ambush-style attacks while they were sitting in their patrol cars, and police are searching for suspects, authorities said.

Officers responded to a report of shots fired at 1:06 a.m. and found an Urbandale Police Department officer who had been shot. Authorities from several agencies saturated the area after that shooting, and about 20 minutes later discovered that a Des Moines officer had been shot in a patrol car at an intersection, Des Moines Sgt. Paul Parizek said. The shootings happened about 2 miles apart and both took place along main streets that cut through residential areas.

"There's somebody out there shooting police officers. We hope to find him before somebody else gets hurt," said Parizek, who stopped briefly during a news conference as he worked to control his emotions.

The shootings follow a spate of police killings, including ambushes of officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Five officers were killed in Dallas on July 7 and three were killed later that month in Baton Rouge.

Authorities in Iowa are developing suspect information but they have nothing that they are ready to share with the public, Parizek said. Officers are now conducting patrols in pairs for protection, he said.

"There is a clear and present danger to police officers," Parizek said.

Parizek said he wouldn't release more information about the shootings.

Urbandale Sgt. Chad Underwood said Urbandale officers are equipped with body cameras, but they don't run constantly and it's unclear whether there was video of the shootings.

Urbandale is a suburb of about 40,000 people in the Des Moines metro area with about 50 officers. Officials in Urbandale cancelled school for the day.
Two police officers are shot and killed in separate "ambush-style" attacks in Urbandale and Des Moines, Iowa. A suspect in both shootings was identified and was captured by police two hours later.