Hunter
12/02/24
An Iowa City man was arrested Saturday after allegedly assaulting his live-in partner while intoxicated.
The incident occurred at approximately 12:35 am outside the La Rumba Night Club on Lower Muscatine Road. 29-year-old Luis Betanco-Martinez was allegedly observed by several witnesses physically assaulting his partner, causing injuries to the partner’s face. He then reportedly got into his 2002 Honda CRV and tried to drive away.
Betanco-Martinez crashed into a vehicle parked behind his vehicle, and police arrived as he was still trying to leave the scene. Betanco-Martinez allegedly had bloodshot watery eyes, impaired speech, unsteady balance, and had the odor of alcohol on his person. He reportedly admitted to drinking, and after showing signs of intoxication on field sobriety tests, failed a PBT. A subsequent Datamaster test showed his breath-alcohol level at .202 percent.
Betanco-Martinez was charged with Domestic Assault causing Injury and first offense OWI. If convicted on both counts, he could be sentenced to up to two years in jail.