Hunter
03/08/21
A third Iowa City man has been arrested after allegedly being one of the people who assisted a landlord during an attack on a tenant.
Police say that 36-year-old Rolando Mendez lives next door to his landlord, 68-year-old Suzanne Dashner, on Sycamore Street. They are in a dispute with someone at the apartment below Mendez. On the evening of February 10th, Dashner allegedly enlisted the help of Mendez, 44-year-old Gilberto Mendez Ayala and 68-year-old Gilberto Mendez Marquez to help her break into the victim’s apartment and kick them out.
Reportedly armed with baseball bats and a construction board, the four broke into the apartment. The victim was allegedly hiding in the bedroom and on the phone with 911. Dashner and the men are accused of kicking in the bedroom door, threatening the victim, and Dashner allegedly hit the victim in the leg with a wooden bat.
A warrant for Dashner’s arrest was requested on February 22nd; she was taken into custody on the 24th and charged with 1st degree Burglary and Assault while participating in a Felony. She could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison if convicted on both charges.
Rolando Mendez was taken into custody Sunday afternoon. The three men are charged with 1st degree Burglary and could face up to 25 years in prison for their roles in the incident.