Hunter
02/08/24
A Cedar Rapids man was taken into custody Monday after allegedly going into an Iowa City convenience store he was previously trespassed from while wielding a hammer.
Police were called into the Casey’s on East Benton Street just before 10am. Staff there recognized 39-year-old Eric Fields from a previous incident a week before when he was issued a trespass warning. Casey’s staff reported that Fields was back in the store with a hammer in his hand, yelling and causing a disturbance. Witnesses say Fields was wearing a brown coat and blue jeans, and riding a yellow bike.
An officer located Fields riding the wrong way into traffic on South Gilbert Street. Lights and siren were activated as Fields rode his bike directly at the squad car. He reportedly looked directly at the officer as he passed him.
The officer followed Fields for about two minutes before apprehending him on a bike path near Hills Bank. He reportedly had a hammer in his back pocket that the officer saw while following him.
Fields was given another Trespass warning and charged with Interference with Official Acts, a simple misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail.