WATERLOO – A man who was shot by a police officer on Christmas Day after allegedly striking the officer repeatedly about the face and head and knocking him to the ground now has a trial date set.
Zachary Lee Church, age 27 of Parkersburg, has a trial date set for July 22nd and a pre-trial conference set for July 18th. Church has pled not guilty to charges of felony assault against a peace officer, felony possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and operating while intoxicated.
According to a report, Church was pulled over by Cedar Falls police officer Bob Anderson near 2nd Street and Hudson Avenue in Cedar Falls on December 25th, 2013, at about 2:57 AM. The officer observed Church sleeping in his running vehicle at the location, and smelled the aroma of marijuana from the vehicle and alcohol on Church’s person.
During the subsequent investigation, Church – who is listed as about 6 feet 2 inches tall and 270 lbs. – began to assault officer Anderson, striking him repeatedly about the face and head, and knocking him to the ground. The assault continued until officer Anderson shot Church with his firearm. Officer Anderson suffered cuts, abrasions and swelling to his face due to the assault. Church was hospitalized at Sartori Hospital after he was shot, and then jailed, later posting bond on January 7th.
Church has continued to tour and perform with his music band, Failure of Progress.
SUBJECT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
That picture with him and his guitar has “I am a winner” written all over it!
Well at least he’s playing a guitar. I do think police should start leaving people alone for marijuana related interventions. They’re really creating a big divide in their popularity among increasing numbers of the population. Why continue to support an unpopular law? Cops certainly look the other way for loud tailpipes, so it’s time they start doing so for marijuana possession. And I say this as a person who doesn’t even smoke marijuana. It just doesn’t make sense to prosecute plants.
Ahhh…. A popularity contest now. I seem to think Harleys are pretty popular, so is that why the police don’t enforce the noise ordinance in Clear Lake AKA “The Hamptons of Iowa?”
Face it Pollo Loco, when something becomes past the tipping point in acceptance, the police tend to respect the will of the masses. I believe marijuana is about there. The other way to look at it, is there are probably about the same amount of people who have loud illegal exhaust systems as there are people who use marijuana in the state of Iowa. Now send me more money. That ten dollars you sent me was used up yesterday.
I can’t tell if you are ignoring or are failing to see the flaw in your logic. Maybe you should post a lengthy clarification on your website… Oh wait… That’s not really an option is it.