Lang
10/21/20
An arraignment date has been set for a leader of Iowa City protests who police say tried to blind their officers during a demonstration last summer.
24-year-old Matthew Bruce, an organizer for the Des Moines Black Liberation Movement, was arrested on August 31st after a Black Lives Matter protest that saw demonstrators march from the Pentacrest to North Dubuque Street, near the Interstate 80 interchange. Police say that while at University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld’s Church Street home around 8:30pm, Bruce pointed a laser beam into the eyes of multiple officers, causing injuries which needed medical treatment. He reportedly ran when officers approached him, and they located him at 11:40pm on the 100 block of South Linn Street.
Bruce faces nine counts of assault on a peace officer with intent to injure, six counts of assault on persons in certain occupations causing bodily injury and one charge of interference with official acts. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of 57 years in prison.
Judge Chad Kepros has set an arraignment date of October 30th.