Suspect who shot ICPD officer with BB’s pleads not guilty

Lang
8/31/19

A shoplifting suspect shot by police after she repeatedly shot an Iowa City Police officer with BB’s has entered a not guilty plea.

25-year-old Cierra Lewis entered the plea Friday in Johnson County District Court. She’s charged with Assault on a Police Officer Using a Weapon and Willful Injury Causing Serious Injury. If convicted on both charges, she faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.

ICPD officer Michael Clark shot Lewis after she shot him repeatedly with a BB gun on July 29th. The shooting happened after officers responded to a shoplifting incident at Starbucks on Highway 1 West just before 3:30 that afternoon. The suspect, later identified as Lewis, was located at a bus shelter across from the Riverside Drive/Ruppert Road intersection. After allegedly ignoring Clark’s commands, Lewis shot Clark multiple times with a BB gun, causing injuries to his face. Clark also fired his weapon, striking Lewis.

Lewis and Clark were then transported to a local hospital and released the next day.