Hunter
01/10/25
An Iowa City man was arrested after an argument turned physical over a home improvement project completed months before.
The alleged incident occurred Thursday afternoon at the Kimball Road residence of 45-year-old Matthew Dawson. He and his spouse of 17 years reportedly got into an argument over a project a family member completed months earlier. Police say Dawson took it upon himself to remove some of the wood structure by hitting it with a mini sledge hammer. The victim approached him and started recording him with her cell phone, which has historically made Dawson upset. He reportedly told her to stop, pushed her down on the stairs and tried to grab the phone from her.
While his wife was crouched on the floor, Dawson allegedly repeatedly grabbed and swung at her, causing cuts to her right hand. Arriving officers observed small cuts with fresh blood on her hand and swelling to the left side of her face.
The couple’s 9-year-old son was in the next room and the arrest report indicates he was close enough to hear what was going on and know that his mother and father were involved in a physical altercation.
Dawson was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault causing Injury and Child Endangerment. If convicted on both counts, he could be sentenced to up to three years in prison.