Iowa City man charged with assaulting subject and threatening to murder him

Iowa City man charged with assaulting subject and threatening to murder him
Hunter
09/16/23

An Iowa City man was arrested Friday night after allegedly assaulting a victim on two separate locations and threatening to murder him.

The first incident took place Friday afternoon near the Kum & Go on East Burlington Street.  35-year-old Barry Baguss of Bayridge drive allegedly shoved the man against a fence, then grabbed him and shoved him to the ground.  The victim fled from Baguss.

Baguss found the man on the Ped Mall later in the afternoon and reportedly shoved him over in the 100 block of South Dubuque Street, causing him to fall on an electrical outlet box.  Baguss then allegedly grabbed the man’s foot and tried dragging him. Baguss told the man he was going to kill him and if he caught him again downtown, he would murder him.

Baguss fled the scene in a black Honda, but his alleged harassment continued an hour later, when he sent the victim a message saying he was on his way. The victim contacted police, who located the vehicle and stopped it.

Baggus was a passenger in the vehicle, and when confronted, allegedly admitted to shoving the victim, sending text messages, and making statements in anger.

Baggus was arrested and charged with Assault causing Bodily Injury and 1st degree Harassment. If convicted on both counts, he could be sentenced to up to three years in jail.

A no-contact order was requested by the victim.