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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Trial for teen accused of assaulting Officer Davis moved
Sep. 22, 2009 1:10 pm
Sixth Judicial District Judge Thomas Koehler granted the defense's motion for change of venue in the trial of Jose Rockiett, who is accused of assaulting Cedar Rapids Police officer Tim Davis on March 29.
Koehler will move the trial to Des Moines County, according to the ruling. The trial is set for Oct. 5, but it could be continued based on change of venue.
Rockiett, 18, of Cedar Rapids, 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, is accused of striking Davis, 30, who was responding to the robbery of David Scanlon. Davis suffered severe head injuries, resulting from the assault.
Rockiett's attorney argued earlier this month that moving the trial out of this area was necessary because of pretrial publicity.
Koehler in the same ruling denied the defense's motion to suppress Rockiett's statement he made to police after the assault.Rockiett admitted to throwing a punch at Davis but said he didn't know he was a police officer. Davis wasn't in uniform at the time of the incident.
Jose Rockiett, then-17, enters the courtroom for his initial appearance at the Linn County Courthouse on Monday, March 31, 2009, in Cedar Rapids. Rockiett is was charged with willful injury and first-degree robbery in the assault of Cedar Rapids police officer Tim Davis as well as armed robbery.(Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
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