IC woman faces hate crimes charge after alleged assault

Lang
7/19/20

An Iowa City woman faces a hate crimes charge after an alleged assault Saturday morning.

Iowa City Police were dispatched to an apartment building at 412 N. Clinton Street just after 8am Saturday for an assault where racial slurs were used. Arriving officers interviewed a resident of the building, identified as 60-year-old Cindy Dreherklosterman, as well as the alleged victim and a witness. Police say Dreherklosterman showed multiple signs of intoxication, and when asked about her alcohol intake demanded her lawyer. She refused sobriety testing.

The alleged victim and witness claimed Dreherklosterman had been verbally abusive and made racially insensitive remarks to describe the alleged victim and the witness’s child. She then allegedly punched the man in the face.

The alleged victim was not injured, but felt he was targeted because of his race. Witnesses kept referring to Dreherklosterman as being “drunk” and said she was causing problems she normally wouldn’t when sober.

Dreherklosterman is charged with Assault in Violation of Individual Rights and Public Intoxication. If convicted on both charges, she faces a maximum of 13 months in jail.