Former UI Student Accused of Choking Police Officer Set to Plead Guilty

By Vanessa Miller, Reporter

Brandon Plummer, 20, sits with his attorney Mark Brown during a hearing Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012 at the Johnson County District Court House in Iowa City. Plummer will be tried outside Johnson County after District Court Judge Paul Miller granted the defense attorney�s request, based on his argument that media saturation in the case would make it too difficult to seat an unbiased jury. Several other motions in the case were also taken under consideration by Judge Miller. (Brian Ray/ SourceMedia Group News)

Tools

By Liz Blood

Story Created: Sep 14, 2012 at 2:45 PM CDT

Story Updated: Sep 14, 2012 at 2:51 PM CDT

TAMA COUNTY, Iowa - A 21-year-old former University of Iowa student accused of attempted murder after authorities say he choked an Iowa City police officer is scheduled to enter a guilty plea next week.

Branden Plummer’s trial, which was moved to Tama County because of concerns it would be difficult to seat an unbiased jury in Johnson County, was supposed to start Sept. 24. But, according to online court records, Plummer will enter a guilty plea on Sept. 21, although it’s unclear what charges he is planning to plead guilty to.

His bond also was reduced today from $100,000 to $50,000, which could mean he’s planning to plead guilty to lesser charges. He originally was charged with attempted murder and willful injury causing bodily injury after allegedly choking Iowa City police Sgt. Brian Krei until he passed out near the corner of Burlington and Linn streets on Nov. 18, 2011.

Krei had stopped Plummer for blocking traffic at the intersection, according to a criminal complaint. In addition to choking Krei, Plummer is accused of hitting the officer’s head on the concrete, according to police.