Officer Beating Suspect Makes First Court Appearance

By Dave Franzman, Reporter

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By Dave Franzman

Story Created: Mar 31, 2009 at 4:48 PM CST

Story Updated: Mar 31, 2009 at 5:45 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS-A 17-year-old faces felony charges in connection with the beating of a Cedar Rapids Police officer. But his mother says Jose Rockiett may not have known he was striking an officer.

One of the original charges against Rockiett was assault on a peace officer. But prior to his initial appearance Tuesday, prosecutors substituted the more serious felony charge of willful injury.

TV9 found Rockiett's mother, Josetta Fowler, after the hearing. She was both upset and apologetic.

Fowler said "I'm not a bad person...I tried to raise my kids the best I can. I really don't know what happened but I'm very sorry to the family. I don't know what happened I don't know what was in his head."

Police charged Fowler and her 15-year-old son Vanice Heath with interfering after detectives decided to charge Rockiett. Fowler says police handled her roughly and aggravated a shoulder injury.

The defendant's mother believes her son was with the people who beat and robbed someone Sunday night. That was the crime that sparked the incident in which the officer was injured.

But she said Rockiett didn't take part in the beating or robbery. She does admit Rockiett may have hit the officer to try and get away. But she also said her son may not have known the man in plain clothes was a police officer.

Fowler said "he was dressed in plain clothes. he did not see a badge on this person. Who injured the police officer? I guess my son did he grabbed him...he didn't know who he was. His reaction was to swing and run."

In court, the judge noted Rockiett had no adult criminal record but had spent time at the state juvenile detention center in Eldora.

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