Hunter
03/23/21
An Iowa City transient who was accused of stealing a man’s laundry and assaulting him days later has been arrested.
According to police, 44-year-old Louis Church went into Clean Laundry on Highway 1 in the overnight hours of December 21st. He allegedly found the man’s clothing sitting in a laundry basket, went through it, gathered it up and left the business.
Church and the man had contact via Facebook Messenger, and Church allegedly admitted to taking the clothing, valued at up to $400. He also allegedly told the man he planned on wearing the items. They included overalls, a Hawkeye blanket, an Under Armour hoodie, two Hawkeye hoodies, pairs of jeans, multiple long, short and flannel shirts, underwear, towels and washcloths.
On December 24th, Church allegedly sent a threatening Facebook message to the man, stating that “What I’m going to get correct is that I’m going to beat your effing face,” also calling him a bitch ass mother effer.
Five days later, Church saw the man at the Muscatine Avenue Kum & Go and reportedly made good on his threat. The two reportedly got into an argument outside, then the man went into the convenience store. Church allegedly followed him in and yelled at him. The man walked away and told Church to get away from him, but Church went up to the man and struck him in the face. Security cameras recorded the assault.
A warrant was issued for Church’s arrest, and he was taken into custody Monday. He faces charges of 3rd degree Theft, 3rd degree Harassment, and Assault. If convicted on all counts, Church could be sentenced to up to 26 months in jail.
Court records indicate that Church has prior theft convictions in 1994, 1995 and 1998.