Report: Davenport Leaders Knew of Warning Signs Before Deadly Building Collapse

A new investigation reveals that top city officials in Davenport, Iowa were aware of serious safety concerns at the 324 Main Street apartment building before it collapsed—yet residents say they were never warned.

According to documents obtained by TV6 Investigates through a Freedom of Information Act request, a 911 call was made the day before the collapse. The caller warned that a wall was “vaulting out” and said someone working on the building advised him to move away because “it’s not looking good.”

Despite the urgent warning, no evacuation notice was sent to tenants. The next day, the building crumbled.

The newly released criminal investigation report includes interviews, documents, and video evidence used by police to piece together the timeline. It shows that by the time the collapse occurred, Davenport Mayor Mike Manson and City Administrator Corri Spiegel had already been informed about structural issues.

Text messages exchanged among city officials in the days after the collapse suggest that the red wall—later identified as the point of failure—had been flagged as a concern prior to the incident. The city had visited the site earlier in the week and issued a permit, reporting the building appeared to be in the same condition.

When asked for comment on which officials knew what and when, a Davenport spokesperson said the city will not comment until it reviews the full investigation report.

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