Trio of arrests over the weekend involving individuals making bad decisions while dealing  with Iowa City Police

Hunter
05/19/21

A trio of bad decisions was made by area residents over the weekend in downtown Iowa City, as they allegedly threatened and interfered with police on separate occasions.

The first incident occurred at around 150 am Saturday in the 100 block of East College Street. An officer was on scene when 30-year-old Devyn Denny of Holiday Lodge Road in North Liberty allegedly approached him and, without provocation, began to threaten the officer and his family with physical harm. He reportedly had signs of intoxication that included bloodshot watery eyes, slurred speech, and a strong odor of ingested alcohol. In his report, the officer wrote that Denny “showed impaired decision making skills by threatening a fully uniformed police officer without provocation.” Denny’s post-arrest PBT showed a blood-alcohol level of .144 percent. He was charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct, both simple misdemeanors.

Sunday morning just before 3 am, police were called to the Casey’s on North Dubuque Street regarding a person refusing to leave. After the officer dealt with that person, staff pointed out another individual, identified as 22-year-old Thomas Schecher of Urbandale, who also refused to leave the premises. He allegedly was observed with bloodshot watery eyes, had the odor of ingested alcohol, and was reportedly wearing multiple bar bands. The officer gave Schecher an opportunity to leave, but he instead chose to stay and argue. After additional requests for Schecher to leave resulted in further arguing, he was arrested for Public Intoxication. A post-arrest PBT showed his blood-alcohol level at .164.

The final incident occurred Monday before 12:30 am at the Dublin Underground on South Dubuque Street. 56-year-old transient Emile Harris was involved in an argument with another customer and was asked to leave by staff. Harris allegedly stood in the entryway and yelled into the bar at the employees until police were called. Once officers arrived, Harris reportedly refused to give his name, and allegedly stated that he would go to jail over the situation.

And that’s what happened.

Harris was identified by jail staff after being arrested for Harassment of a Public Official or Employee, a simple misdemeanor.