Hunter
11/15/21
An Iowa City man arrested on Halloween morning for fighting on the Ped Mall has been taken into custody after a warrant was issued due to a probation violation.
The incident occurred just before 2am on October 31st in the 100 block of East College Street. 37-year-old Joshua Deverney of Muscatine Avenue was observed by officers punching random people with a closed fist. A man went up to Deverney and was punched in the jaw without provocation. The victim reportedly suffered pain to his jaw and buttocks, and suffered a scraped elbow when he fell.
Deverney was immediately taken into custody but allegedly showed great resistance to officer’s attempt to do so, pushing away officers and reportedly trying to flee. He denied assaulting anyone despite the incident being witnessed by several people as well as police officers. Signs of intoxication were observed, and Deverney’s blood-alcohol content was measured at .146 percent.
Deverney was charged with Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations, Public Intoxication, Disorderly Conduct, and Interference with official acts.
On November 1st, Judge Deborah Minot issued a bench warrant requested by the Department of Correctional Services in Coralville because the incident was a probation violation. Deverney was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault impeding Airflow on June 28th , and a Domestic Abuse Assault causing Injury from July 28th. he was sentenced October 1st to 180 days in jail, of which 150 were suspended. Three violations of no-contact order charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement. He was also sentenced to public service in lieu of fine payment for the July incident, and under terms of probation was prohibited from behavior that would lead to an arrest.
On November 2nd, an additional charge of Assault causing Bodily Injury was filed from the Ped Mall incident, with another warrant was issued for his arrest. Deverney was taken into custody on Saturday evening, and a public defender was appointed to his case Monday.
If convicted on all counts related to the Ped Mall incident, Deverney faces up to 27 months in jail.