Hunter
09/21/23
An Iowa City man was arrested after a reportedly unprovoked assault on an elderly man at Catholic Worker House.
According to the police report, 36-year-old transient Miguel Garcia was observed starting the altercation for no apparent reason Sunday with a 79-year-old man who was sitting down for lunch. Garcia reportedly struck the man in the face, slapped him, and punched him in the chest before pushing him to the ground. The victim had to be transported to the hospital, as he was coughing up blood.
Garcia was located a short time later, and allegedly told police he assaulted the man because, quote, “he needed it.” He also reportedly claimed that the man was saying “some weird ess,” and again admitted that he “got” him.
Garcia was charged with Assault causing Bodily Injury, a serious misdemeanor punishable by a jail sentence of up to a year if convicted.