Hunter
11/08/21
A Cedar Rapids man was taken into custody early Sunday morning after reportedly becoming irate when a fellow bar patron refused to buy him a drink.
According to police, the incident occurred at El Ray’s Live and Dive on Iowa Avenue around 12:30am. 20-year-old Makhi Harris of Spring View Court Northeast approached the man and asked him to buy him a drink. When he refused, Harris allegedly him in a headlock and hit him four times in the face.
A woman at the bar tried to intervene between the two, but Harris reportedly pushed her to the ground. She was uninjured.
When officers arrived, Harris was outside the bar, being restrained by staff. He allegedly showed signs of intoxication that included bloodshot watery eyes, slurred speech, and the odor of ingested alcohol. He also reportedly admitted to being “under the influence.” While speaking with police, Harris fled, ignoring orders to stop, and had to be tackled to be stopped. He then allegedly refused to put his hand behind his back, or roll onto his stomach to be handcuffed. Police say they had to force Harris into the prone position, and in the process Harris attempted to head-butt the officers.
He refused chemical testing and was taken into custody. Harris faces charges of Assault Causing Bodily Injury, simple Assault, Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations, Interference with Official Acts, and Public Intoxication. If convicted on all counts, Harris faces a maximum jail term of 27 months.