Bomb threat in Iowa City leads to arrest

A homeless man is accused of making a bomb threat on the University of Iowa campus and fighting with police officers.

According to University of Iowa police criminal complaints, at 7 a.m. Sunday, 35-year-old Rickie A. Roberts, Jr. walked by someone in the skywalk of the UI's West Campus Transportation Center and said, "There's gonna be a bomb threat today."

Police said the woman was "very alarmed" by the threat, was shaking and had difficulty operating her phone. The woman told police she felt Roberts' threat was legitimate.

According to criminal complaints, when officers told Roberts he was under arrest for trespassing, he told them he wasn't going to jail. Roberts allegedly sat down while handcuffed and refused to move. Officers were forced to carry Roberts by his arms and legs down the stairs. Police said Roberts resisted arrest by biting one of the officers, leaving bruises and indentations on his hand.

Roberts was taken to the Johnson County Jail. He faces charges of assault causing injury to a police officer, interference with official acts causing bodily injury, second-degree harassment and trespass.