Lang
3/21/25
A bystander video of the arrest of an Iowa City man accused of threatening a University of Iowa student with a knife and trying to run down an Iowa City Police officer with his car has gone viral.
The incident involved the Tuesday arrest of 48-year-old Jonathan Kim. Kim was taken into custody on Gilbert Court after he skipped a pair of case management conferences relating to an April 4th, 2024 incident during which he allegedly threatened a UI student with a knife outside Van Allen Hall. He’s charged with Assault While Displaying a Weapon in that case.
Kim is also facing charges of Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations, Interference With Official Acts Involving a Weapon, Felony Eluding and Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations relating to a separate incident last January that saw him allegedly strike a police officer with his car at the Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh on North Dodge Street, then flee the scene. Kim, who was wanted for skipping out on a bill at The Vine on East Prentiss Street, was later found at his residence on Woodland Heights Drive. Police say he charged at and attacked an officer before being taken into custody.
A video taken by a witness of Kim’s Tuesday arrest begins after the encounter began, and shows ICPD officer Alirio Arcenas on top of Kim, punching him repeatedly in the head. Police say Kim punched and kicked Arcenas first, but that part of the encounter was not included in the bystander video. Police Chief Dustin Liston told the Press-Citizen that the entire exchange was recorded on body and squad car cameras, but that footage would not be released to the public because it’s being used in Kim’s prosecution.
Tuesday’s incident has led to charges against Kim of Interference with Official Acts Causing Bodily Injury and Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations Causing Bodily Injury. If convicted on all current charges against him, Kim faces a maximum of 21 years in prison.