Cedar Rapids man convicted of assaulting police officer, other charges

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids man who punched a police officer at a laundromat last January during a domestic abuse call pleaded guilty to assault and domestic abuse charges Monday in Linn County District Court.

Nathan Brocks, 33, pleaded guilty to assault with intent to inflict serious injury on a peace officer and assault causing bodily injury (domestic abuse penalty enhanced), both felonies, and assault on a peace officer and interference with official acts causing a bodily injury, both serious misdemeanors.

Brocks admitted during the hearing to slapping a woman and then punching Officer Randall Vest, who fell and hit his head on a concrete barrier in the parking lot on Jan. 17 at Soapy Waters, 800 Sixth St. SW, when Vest responded to the domestic abuse complaint. He also admitted to throwing a punch at another officer, Jared Jupin, and struggling against another officer, Cody Mosher, during the incident.

Police said officers had to use a Taser to control him after he attempted to punch Jupin.

First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks said Vest had a serious head injury and was admitted to the hospital for treatment.

Brocks also pleaded guilty to assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, a felony, and criminal trespass with damage and assault, both serious misdemeanors, in another incident from Dec. 1, 2015. He admitted to threatening a man with a kitchen knife over a ride and entering a residence without permission and causing damage.

Maybanks said he will recommend running the three felony five-year sentences concurrently and the two one-year misdemeanor sentences consecutively for a total of seven years in prison. Brocks was also ordered to pay restitution for damages at the residence.

The defense will ask for concurrent sentences on the felony and misdemeanor charges for a total of six years in prison, Maybanks said.