Hunter
11/07/19
An ongoing neighborly dispute has led to the arrest of an Iowa City man after he destroyed a tree.
Police were dispatched to the 1500 block of Spruce Street Wednesday morning on reports of a subject trespassing and destroying a tree. Upon arrival, they observed a small tree stump that was clearly on the victim’s property, destroyed. The property owner showed officers video evidence of 25-year-old Cody Stagg cutting down the tree.
When interviewed, Stagg allegedly said the tree was hanging onto his property, so he intentionally cut it down. He also cut down several other bushes that may or may not have been on his property.
Police say Stagg has had prior complaints leveled against him by the victims, and was given a criminal trespass and harassment warning over a year ago.
Stagg was charged with 4th degree criminal mischief, a serious misdemeanor punishable by a jail sentence of up to one year.