Hunter
03/11/22
An Iowa City man was taken into custody Thursday afternoon after allegedly assaulting the mother of his child and puncturing her car tire to prevent her from leaving the scene.
Police responded to the Deforest Avenue home of 50-year-old Jerome Brooks. The victim was on scene and told 911 that her child’s father had stabbed her vehicle’s tire with a knife and flattened it. Arriving officers were told that she and Brooks were in a verbal argument that escalated. Brooks allegedly held the woman down with his forearm in a chair and took her keys from her. Brooks then reportedly forcefully took the woman’s cellphone from her son, who she gave the phone to during the incident.
The boy complained of pain to his hand.
The woman then fled outside with her children, and tried leaving the scene, but Brooks allegedly followed her and punctured her vehicle’s tire, preventing her from escaping.
When interviewed, Brooks reportedly told police he didn’t want the woman to leave with the vehicle, and allegedly admitted to taking the woman’s cellphone from their child.
Brooks was arrested and charged with Child Endangerment causing Bodily Injury, False Imprisonment, and 2nd offense Domestic Abuse Assault. If convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to up to eight years in prison.