Police: Rockiett admitted to hitting Officer Davis

UPDATE: Jose Rockiett admitted to police he hit Cedar Rapids officer Tim Davis the night of a March 29 robbery but said he didn't know Davis was a police officer.

Cedar Rapids police Officer John O'Brien testified Rockiett, now 18, told him and another officer that he saw a “plain” car drive up that night, and a “white guy” in plain clothes got out and grabbed him. He said he only “swung” once at Davis.

The defense, in a Wednesday hearing in Linn County District Court, asked the court to suppress those statements because Rockiett hadn't been read his rights and because he asked a few times to stop the interview. The defense also asked for a change of venue because of pretrial publicity surrounding the case.

Sixth Judicial District Senior Judge Thomas Koehler took the motions under advisement and will make a written ruling.

O'Brien said Rockiett kept apologizing for hitting Davis and continued to say he didn't know Davis was a police officer. Rockiett, he said, just blurted that out without being asked.

Officer Chip Joecken testified Rockiett became a suspect when he incriminated himself in the robbery of David Scanlon, 20, of Cedar Rapids, and the subsequent beating of Davis, 30.

Joecken said at that point, Rockiett was asked to read a form that waived his rights as a juvenile since he was 17 at the time. Rockiett then agreed to talk with officers but wouldn't initially sign the form.

Joezetta Fowler of Cedar Rapids, Rockiett's mother, testified she was concerned her son didn't understand what he was telling the police or that he didn't understand his rights when he later signed the form.

Fowler also said Rockiett told police he didn't want to say anything more several times but that the interview continued.

Joecken confirmed that Rockiett did say that a few times but that he then continued to talk.

Rockiett is charged with first-degree robbery and willful injury causing serious injury and interference with official acts causing serious injury and/or while displaying a dangerous weapon. His trial is set for Oct. 5.