Hunter
05/09/24
An Iowa City man faces multiple charges after an alleged assault on his live-in girlfriend earlier this week.
Police were called to the Crosspark Avenue residence of 21-year-old Jeremiah Ward Tuesday a little before 2:45 am on reports of an assault. According to the police report, Ward and his girlfriend were in a verbal argument in their apartment that continued as they went outside. When they went back in, Ward allegedly demanded money from the woman, who refused. Ward then reportedly began choking the woman. She told police that she couldn’t breathe and felt Ward squeezing her windpipe with his hand.
Ward’s girlfriend then attempted to use her phone to call 911, but Ward allegedly took it away from her and went outside, where police encountered him. He reportedly still had the woman’s phone, and had the odor of ingested alcohol. Ward allegedly admitted to drinking earlier that night, and provided a post-arrest PBT showing his breath alcohol level at .214 percent.
A roommate witnessed the assault, which occurred on an air mattress in the living room of the apartment where the witness’ child was sleeping. Ward allegedly stepped on the child during the alleged choking incident.
Ward was arrested and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault causing Injury and Impeding Airflow, Child Endangerment, Obstruction of Emergency Communications and Public Intoxication. If convicted on all counts against him, Ward could be sentenced to over five years in prison.