Fight with wanted man hurts two Cedar Rapids officers

CEDAR RAPIDS -Two Cedar Rapids police officers were hurt Thursday in a fight with a man who apparently should have still been in jail.

Officer John Dunkelberger broke his right hand and Officer Tracy Schmidt took an elbow to the face during the scuffle, which broke out after a traffic stop around 3 a.m. in the 600 block alley between 15th and 16th avenues SW. Both officers were treated and released from St. Luke's Hospital.

Chris D. Houston, 20, of 640 16th Ave. SW, was arrested on suspicion of two counts of assault on a peace officer, two counts of interference with official acts causing injury and for two outstanding warrants.

Police said Houston was a passenger in a vehicle that ran a stop sign at 19th Avenue and 12th Street SW. Police identified Houston and realized two arrest warrants had been issued for him. The officers were talking to Houston out of the car when Houston charged Officer Schmidt, trying to get away, according to the police report.

Sgt. Cristy Hamblinsaid Houston started swinging at both officers.

The officers were able to physically subdue and arrest Houston, but while they were doing that, Houston's mother, Tonya Brock, 40, came out of her house and started yelling at officers. Police said she disobeyed numerous commands to go back inside and was arrested for interference with official acts.

Houston and Brock were taken to the Linn County Jail.

Officer Dunkelberger was expected to be taken off patrol and placed on “light duty,” while his hand recovers. Hamblinsaid officers who are injured or pregnant typically assist with data entry, scanning and front desk reception.

Court records show Houston was convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery and assault causing bodily injury in 2009, after police accused him of striking another teenage boy with brass knuckles and taking property from him.

Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden said Houston was given a 10-year suspended prison sentence, and sent to the Hinzman Center for up to a year, but committed violations there and was sent back to jail. Vander Sanden said judge later ordered Houston be in jail until a hearing on revocation of his probation.

Seven weeks later, and prior to the hearing, Houston posted bail and was released, online court records state.

“How he secured his release from jail by posting bond, I don't know,” Vander Sanden said. “That's a mystery to me.”

When Houston's probation officer learned that he was not in jail, he contacted Vander Sanden, who filed an application to bring him back into custody. An arrest warrant was later issued.

Contacted late Thursday, Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner said he was not aware of any inmate being mistakenly allowed to post bail, but said he would look into the matter.