Hunter
09/11/21
An Iowa City man was arrested Friday after a woman accused him of assaulting her on two occasions.
Arrest reports indicate that 47-year-old James VanLuvender of Kirkwood Court was involved in the incidents. The victim reports that there was a verbal altercation on September 5th about the woman being disrespectful. When she told VanLuvender not to talk to her like that, he allegedly pushed her, causing her to fall into a door frame. She reportedly suffered bruises from that incident. Then on Wednesday, there was another argument, reportedly over finance. VanLuvender is accused of pushing her, causing her to fall back. The woman said she grabbed onto the man’s shorts to keep her from falling.
VanLuvender was interviewed under Miranda Friday, and he reportedly admitted to pushing the woman two days previously, but claimed it was in self-defense because she grabbed his genitals. VanLuvender allegedly denied any physical altercation in the first incident, and stated that her bruises were from moving furniture. He accused the woman of lying.
VanLuvender was taken into custody Friday and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault causing Injury, a serious misdemeanor punishable by a jail sentence of up to one year if convicted. A no-contact order was requested between the two involved parties.