DUBUQUE, Iowa — A 32-year-old Dubuque woman was taken into custody early Thursday morning on a felony charge of participating in a riot, according to court records from the Dubuque County District Court.

Briana Lakenya Thompson was arrested at 6:30 a.m. on April 9, 2026, at 770 Iowa St. in Dubuque. The arrest was carried out by the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Department on an active warrant. Court documents list the arresting officer as Z. Conlon and identify the case as State of Iowa v. Thompson, Briana Lakenya, Case No. 01311 FECR162700. 

The charge stems from events detailed in a criminal complaint filed by the Dubuque Police Department on January 7, 2026. The following day, January 8, District Court Judge Robert J. Richter signed an order directing the issuance of an arrest warrant. The warrant was formally issued on January 9, 2026, and remained outstanding for approximately three months until it was served Thursday.

Court docket entries filed Thursday reflect standard post-arrest procedures:

•  An appearance was entered by attorney Steven Ray Wilson Jr.

•  The Dubuque County Department of Correctional Services completed a pre-trial release evaluation.

•  The warrant was officially noted as served.

Under Iowa law, the offense of participating in a riot is codified at Iowa Code Section 723.1. It applies when three or more persons assemble in a violent manner to disturb the peace, and a person “willingly joins in or remains a part of a riot, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that it is such.” The statute classifies the offense as a Class D felon.

No further details about the underlying incident that prompted the January complaint have been released in the public court filings reviewed. The charge does not specify any additional aggravating factors such as injury or property damage, which are sometimes associated with public-disorder cases but are not required for a conviction under this section.

Thompson is presumed innocent until proven guilty. As of Thursday afternoon, no plea has been entered, and a trial date has not been scheduled. The pre-trial release evaluation will inform any conditions of release or bond considerations at the next hearing.

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