Woman accused of dragging officer faces 10 charges

WASHINGTON - The woman accused of dragging a Washington police officer with a stolen car is facing 10 charges in District Court.

The case against Mary Bella Brooks was laid out in court filings last week. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Washington County Attorney John Gish outlined the 10 charges against Brooks:

' Interference with official acts inflicting bodily injury,

' Interference with official acts by use or displays of dangerous weapon.

' Assault on person in certain occupation and use or displays a dangerous weapon.

' Theft in the second degree.

' Possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine in amount over five grams and under five kilograms.

' Failure to affix a drug tax stamp.

' Assault while participating in felony.

' Theft in the second degree.

' Unlawful possession of a prescription drug.

' Possession of a controlled substance.

Brooks has pleaded not guilty to all charges, according to the initial appearance order. She is scheduled for arraignment on Feb. 26.

District Court Judge Shawn Showers stated in the order for arraignment that the information contains sufficient evidence to warrant a conviction by trial jury.

Brooks is charged with assault on a police officer after attempting to flee a traffic stop with an officer hanging from the vehicle, along with nine the other charges.

The following information is from Washington Police Officer Ethan Hansen's affidavit.

On Aug. 2 at 12:24 a.m., Hansen noticed a Black Hyundai traveling west on East Washington Street. The vehicle had no license plates.

Hansen pulled the vehicle over at East Second Avenue and North 15th street. While checking the vehicle information through the communications center, he was informed the vehicle was stolen.

He asked Brooks to step out of the vehicle, but she refused and started to reach toward the gear shifter.

'I reached inside the vehicle to stop the defendant from putting the vehicle in gear. The defendant put the car in gear and accelerated down the street with my person hanging on by the window,” Hansen said.

He said the vehicle reached a top speed of approximately 50 to 55 miles per hour and dragged him for approximately four blocks.

'The defendant was advised multiple times to stop the vehicle and refused to do,” he said. 'The defendant stated ‘let go.'”

Hansen said the vehicle drove onto a curve and through a yard in an attempt to get him off the vehicle.

He fell off the vehicle when she drove toward a house and swerved.

At the time she fled the scene, she was not identified, according to the officer.

The officer received minor injuries and was treated and released from the Washington County Hospital and Clinics.

Brooks later abandoned the stolen vehicle and is believed to have stolen a tan 2007 Ford Escape from Washington. That vehicle was recovered by the Des Moines Police Department on Aug. 10.

Brooks was arrested in October by the Texas State Patrol and extradited to Washington.

Brooks is currently being held on a $100,000 cash bond at the Washington County Jail.

Peter Persaud, attorney from the Iowa City Public Defender's Office withdrew from representing Brooks, citing his current caseload. Brooks applied for, and was granted a state appointed attorney, according to court filings.

Attorney Shawn Fitzgerald with the Iowa City Public Defender's office will now represent Brooks at the state's expense.