Hunter
09/20/21
A Black Liberation Movement leader accused of injuring University of Iowa police officers with a laser pointer during a protest last August has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a Des Moines protest.
The Polk County Attorney’s Office reports that Matthew Bruce, now known as Mate Muhammad, entered his plea last week. He allegedly vandalized a Des Moines Police squad car during a June protest demonstration at the HyVee store on Southeast 14th Street. He’s been arrested four times since then, including the night of August 31st when he was charged with nine counts of Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations with Intent of Injury. He faced up to 45 years in prison for that incident, but a state judge dismissed the charges in January, leaving Bruce facing a single Interference with Official Acts charge.
Bruce will be sentenced on Criminal Mischief in the First Degree charges at a later date, and could face up to ten years in prison
