Iowa City man found with variety of drugs, paraphernalia

IOWA CITY - An Iowa City man was caught with a cornucopia of drugs and paraphernalia on him Wednesday afternoon.

Around 3:50 p.m. Wednesday, an Iowa City police officer spotted 31-year-old Nicholas W. Rotter near the intersection of Deforest Avenue and Sycamore Street. Police said Rotter had an active warrant for his arrest.

The officer tried to stop Rotter - who was on a bike - but he continued riding and fled, police said. Rotter eventually rode his bike behind a residence on Spruce Street and hopped a fence. He was found hiding in a wood shed behind a home on Sycamore Street.

Police searched Rotter and his backpack and found eight syringes, two coffee filters containing meth, two additional grams of meth, two grams of psilocybin mushrooms, two spoons and a glass containing a white residue. Brass knuckles were found in his pants pocket, police said.

Rotter was arrested and faces charges of possession of a controlled substance - third or subsequent offense, a Class D felony; and carrying a concealed weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia and interference with official acts, all simple misdemeanors.

Police said Rotter has four possession of a controlled substance charges dating back to 2006.