Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, Iowa)

Police said a Dubuque woman called in two fake robberies Friday morning in an attempt to get officers to stop investigating a fight she was involved in.

Tia M. Broussard, 31, of 47 E. 14th St. No. 1, was arrested on charges of first-degree theft, assault with injury and obstruction of emergency communication.

According to Dubuque police, Sean D. Stevens, 22, of 273 Dorgan Place; Chiquita A. Searcy, 19, of 1328 Main St., Apt. 1, and Anthony L. Carroll, 22, of 1600 Butterfield Drive, Apt. 106, went to Broussard’s apartment shortly after 3 a.m. But an argument started over comments Broussard made about one of Searcy’s friends, and it escalated when Broussard grabbed Searcy.

Police said Stevens tried to intervene, but Broussard hit him in the face and head. When he went outside to call 911, she knocked the phone out of his hand, grabbed it and ran back into her apartment. Police arrived and said she refused to cooperate and return the phone, so they applied for a search warrant, which was granted.

At about the same time, dispatchers received reports of two robberies in the area of 16th Street and Central Avenue. Police said they determined Broussard made the calls, hoping to get officers to leave.

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