CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Cedar Rapids Police say new enforcement policies put in place this past weekend could help one area of downtown avoid the trouble it’s been seeing. Captain Doug Doyle says police will increase their presence in and around bars in that area. They will also start enforcing a no-parking, tow-away zone from the corner of 2nd Avenue to the corner of 3rd Avenue from 9 p.m. on Saturday to 2 a.m. on Sunday. Pub 217 caught a recent disturbance on their security camera. 6 people were arrested after the fight. Because of that, Pub 217 decided to close earlier on Saturdays, but owners say a change in the activity downtown could cause them to change their hours back. Cedar Rapids Police also say people can expect to see an increase in police presence in and around the bars downtown. They and the city will continue to be in touch with businesses downtown to ensure safety.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – The Mississippi man charged with destroying a Satanic Temple display at the Iowa Capitol has accepted a plea deal in the case. The controversial display, which Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds called “objectionable,” featured a ram’s head covered with mirrors on a mannequin before being damaged. Cassidy initially argued that the Satanic Temple of Iowa is not a real religion and that the hate crime charge he was given violated his First Amendment rights. He was set to go to trial on June 3, but on Friday filed a plea of guilty to Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree; the plea did not include a hate crime charge attached to it. As part of the plea deal, Cassidy will pay a $855 fine and serve two years probation. He will also have to pay restitution that has yet to be determined.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) -Around a dozen people protested a decision which will leave a “food desert” in Cedar Rapids. Advocates for Social for Justice organized the protest at the Oakland Road Hy-Vee. The group is continuing to protest Hy-Vee’s decision to close its store on First Avenue. They’re demanding Hy-Vee keeps the First Avenue store open until September, Hy-Vee to pay for community activists to canvass the area around the First Avenue Hy-Vee, and to guarantee another grocery store will go in that spot. As a private business, Hy-Vee has no obligation to acquiesce to those demands. Hy-Vee has announced measures to help those impacted by the store closing, including a temporary free shuttle service from the First Avenue location to the Oakland Road Hy-Vee. There will also be free grocery delivery within one mile of the store with a minimum order of $25.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – On May 22, officials were called to the 1900 block of Broadway St. for a report of children being shot at with BB guns. The victim’s injuries included several red welts on their legs and lower body. Officials arrived to find 19-year-old Shawn Jones at the scene, as well as the father of one of the children with injuries. The father identified Jones as being involved with the shooting. Jones admitted to officials to taking video of his friends shooting children in the area with BB guns, but not to shooting any of the victims himself. Jones reportedly gave officers consent to search his cell phone, as well as a false name and date of birth as officers attempted to identify him. Video evidence showed the children being chased down and shot with orbeez guns. Following an investigation, Jones was charged with Assault Causing Bodily Injury or Mental Illness and Harassment of Public Official or Employee.
