Hunter
05/24/21
An Iowa City transient who faces charges of starting a fire inside a downtown Iowa City electrical box earlier this month has reportedly done it a second time.
Police say at around 2:30am Saturday, 49-year-old Brian Yauk started a fire behind a metal electrical panel door to a circuit breaker in the 300 block of East College Street. Yauk reportedly burned a wrapper and a paper towel, which he put behind the panel door before setting it on fire. The fire burned out on its own without damaging any property.
Surveillance video allegedly showed Yauk setting the fire; he was located later that day just before noon, wearing the same clothing. He was taken into custody and charged with Reckless Use of Fire, a serious misdemeanor.
On May 6th, Iowa City Police were called to the alley between Apartments Near Campus and Szechuan House on the 300 block of East Burlington Street just after 8pm for a man starting a fire inside an electrical distribution box. The fire was still smoldering when police arrived, and Yauk was still on the scene. Police say he admitted to igniting the blaze by lighting cardboard on fire beneath the box. Damage was estimated at $1,500.
Yauk was described by police as “agitated” and had to be detained for safety. One officer was injured trying to take him into custody. In that case, Yauk was charged with 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief, Reckless Use of Fire or Explosives, and Interference With Officials Acts Causing Injury. He faces a maximum of seven years in prison for that incident.