Iowa Senator’s Charge Dropped After Bike Ride Standoff
A misdemeanor charge against Republican Senator Adrian Dickey of Iowa has been dropped by an Iowa prosecutor. This charge stemmed from an incident in July when Dickey was arrested for allegedly refusing a police request to clear a roadway during an annual bike ride across the state.
As reported by WHO-TV on Monday, the Sac County prosecutors successfully filed a motion to dismiss the charge against Senator Dickey. Originally, he faced a charge of interference with official acts, as he was accused of declining to vacate the road when instructed by a police officer.
In a formal filing, Sac County Attorney Benjamin John Smith explained that the decision to drop the charge was based on the belief that there wasn’t enough evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Dickey has agreed to cover court costs related to the incident. He maintained that he was merely walking his bike on a gravel road, attempting to rejoin the bike trail. Dickey’s lawyer previously clarified that he encountered a large group of people obstructing the road, but he was not part of that group. The arrest occurred during RAGBRAI, an annual bike ride that spans Iowa.
In response to the dropped charge, Senator Dickey expressed his appreciation to the Sac County Attorney, stating, “I appreciate the Sac County Attorney for correcting this and restoring my reputation.”