Man Suing Iowa Police Arrested on Multiple Charges
A Dubuque man involved in a lawsuit against the Dubuque Police Department alleging racial discrimination and excessive force was arrested on multiple charges Monday.
Michael D. Cooper, 40, of 69 Nevada St,, was arrested at 6:49 p.m. on charges of driving while revoked, operating while intoxicated-third offense, interference with official acts, eluding, simple domestic assault and second-degree burglary.
Police said Cooper "placed fear" into Marsha M. Saunders, 35, of the same address, when he broke through a door of a home at 1809 Rhomberg Ave., demanding their mutual child. Officers pursued Cooper's vehicle from Kerper Boulevard through an alley and into a parking lot on Fengler Street, where Cooper voluntarily exited the vehicle and was ordered to the ground at gunpoint.
Cooper refused to comply with orders and yelled a racial slur after telling officers to "shoot me." Cooper resisted and was eventually pepper-sprayed.
Cooper is one of the plaintiffs in a pending federal lawsuit against the city of Dubuque alleging that Dubuque Police Officer Brian Wullweber used excessive force with police dog Doerak and was motivated to do so because the individuals are black.
There were originally three plaintiffs in the lawsuit, but the city's attorney, Les Reddick, said a federal judge recently dismissed one individual from the suit for filing too late.
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