Dubuque teen appeals sentence from altercation with police

A Dubuque teenager appealed a 10-year prison sentence he received after police said he threatened them with a knife, which led officers to shoot him in an altercation last December. 17-year-old Lorenzo K. Cruz received the sentence in Iowa District Court of Dubuque County after pleading guilty to charges of assault on a peace officer while displaying a dangerous weapon and interference with official acts. He also was sentenced after guilty pleas to unrelated charges of serious injury by vehicle while intoxicated and third-degree harassment. Cruz appealed his sentence and it is now being considered by the Iowa Court of Appeals. According to court documents, several attorneys assigned to represent Cruz’s appeal have withdrawn counsel. The attorney currently assigned to Cruz’s appeal requested to withdraw on Tuesday.