Collegian Busted For Tearing Down Wanted Posters Featuring Photo Of Friend Sought In Cop Kill Attempt

A University of Iowa student was arrested Tuesday night for tearing down wanted posters featuring the photo of a friend being sought in connection with the attempted murder of a police officer.

Elyse DeStefano, 21, copped to tearing down four posters at a Kum & Go market, according to a criminal complaint. The posters offered a $2000 reward for information leading to the identity and arrest of a man who nearly choked an Iowa City cop to death during a mid-November confrontation.

During questioning, DeStefano said she “freaked out” when she saw the posters, since she recognized the suspect as Branden Plummer. DeStefano told cops that her roommate dates Plummer’s roommate, and that she tore down the posters “so others would not recognize Plummer,” according to a criminal complaint.

Police, who began putting up the wanted posters Tuesday, arrested Plummer hours later after receiving a Crime Stoppers tip from a caller who saw the poster at a second Kum & Go convenience store. A 20-year-old University of Iowa student, Plummer was charged with the attempted murder of Sergeant Brian Krei.

DeStefano, pictured above, was cited for misdemeanor criminal mischief for tearing down the posters, which cops valued at $2 apiece. In a Facebook posting late Tuesday evening, DeStefano wrote, “Kum and go lady--you're an idiot.” By yesterday, however, she had apparently redirected some blame: “Welp I'm an idiot,” DeStefano wrote.