Two Waterloo Police cops were injured and a squad car was damaged as the officers tried to break up a disturbance in a neighborhood last night. Waterloo Police Captain Tim Pillack says officers were called to the area at the intersection of East Fourth and Gable Streets at 7:40 p.m. on the report of a large number of people blocking traffic and disturbing neighbors.
The officers and some Iowa State Patrol troopers tried to clear the street. “Some of the people would not comply with the officers’ orders, so they were placed under arrest,” Pillack said. “During the arrests, a couple of officers were assaulted and some people started throwing rocks, bottles and bricks at the squad cars.”
The two injured officers were not seriously hurt. Nine people were arrested and face charges that include assault on a peace officer, interference with official acts and failure to disperse. One man was charged with public intoxication. The individuals charged range in age from 16 to 72.
“Most of them are in their late teens or early 20s, but we did have one elderly female arrested as part of the incident,” Pillack said. It’s not clear why the individuals were in the street and blocking traffic. “I just think they were together as a group and as a group they felt that’s what they wanted to do,” Pillack said.
Waterloo Police have identified those arrested as:
72-year-old Christina Bailey, Waterloo, charged with assault on a peace officer.
21-year-old Tiffany Latrice Edwards, Waterloo, charged with failure to disperse and disorderly conduct.
20-year-old Elijah Jamal Moore, Waterloo, charged with failure to disperse and public intoxication.
19-year-old Douglas Gardel Bailey, Waterloo, charged with assault on a peace officer, failure to disperse and interference with official acts.
18-year-old Ricondis Martin, Waterloo, charged with interference with official acts and failure to disperse.
Four juveniles also face charges, including one charged with assault on a peace officer.