Lang
7/28/22
An Iowa City protest leader accused of trying to blind police officers during a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020 has been given a deferred judgment.
Online court records indicate Judge Jason Burns also placed 26-year-old Matthew Bruce of Iowa City on two years’ probation and fined him a total of $1,175.
Bruce initially faced 15 counts: nine of Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations and six of Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations Causing Bodily Injury. On August 31st 2020, Bruce was at a protest at the University of Iowa’s President’s Residence on Church Street when he allegedly 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 later that night on the 100 block of South Linn Street.
The nine counts of felony assault were dismissed by the court on January 14th, 2021. Bruce reached a plea deal on five of the six remaining misdemeanor assault charges, with one being dismissed. Three of the remaining charges were pleaded down to Simple Assault.
Bruce had faced a maximum of 57 years in prison if convicted on the original charges. Burns gave Bruce the option of performing community service in lieu of fines.
