A judge has dismissed nine felony counts against a Black Lives Matter leader in Iowa who was charged with shining a laser pointer in the eyes of police officers during an August protest.
IOWA CITY - A judge has dismissed nine felony counts against a Black Lives Matter leader in Iowa who was charged with shining a laser pointer in the eyes of police officers during an August protest.
No prison for the man who intentionally drove through our protest? We agree, and this is why. Ala Mohamed, Iowa View contributor
Car drives through Iowa Freedom Riders protest
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On Aug. 21, Michael Stepanek drove his car through our Iowa Freedom Riders protest in Iowa City, hitting several of us and scaring the hell out of the rest of us. His justification, that we needed an attitude adjustment, is a white supremacist outlook.
Earlier this month, we heard from the Associated Press that his charges would be dropped and that Stepanek wouldn’t go to prison. Between Huffington Post and the Chicago Tribune, the news got around about the judge’s decision, and the vast majority of folks we heard from were disturbed and furious that Johnson County District Judge Paul Miller let him off without additional incarceration.
A judge has dismissed nine felony counts filed against a Black Lives Matter leader in Iowa charged with shining a laser pointer in the eyes of police officers during an August protest
Man who drove into Iowa protesters avoids prison This undated photo provided by the Johnson County Sheriff s Office in Iowa City, Iowa, shows Michael Stepanek after his arrest on Aug. 25, 2020. Stepanek will avoid prison and could have the case dismissed under a plea agreement resolving charges related to his decision to intentionally drive through a crowd of racial injustice protesters in Iowa City, striking several. (Source: Johnson County Sheriff s Office via AP) By DAVID PITT | January 8, 2021 at 8:00 PM CST - Updated January 8 at 8:00 PM
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) â A white man who deliberately sped his car through a crowd of racial injustice protesters in Iowa City, striking several, will avoid prison and have the incident erased from his record if he stays out of trouble for three years.