Transient accused of terrorizing downtown IC shoppers with fake assault rifle

Lang
2/15/22

Allegedly terrorizing downtown Iowa City shoppers with a fake assault rifle has led to the arrest of a local transient.

Iowa City Police were called to Glassando in the Old Capitol Town Center just before 3:15 Friday afternoon for a man who was carrying around what appeared to be a fake gun.

The Johnson County Joint Emergency Communications Center then received multiple calls about the same subject in the downtown area. The suspect was located near the corner of Clinton and Washington Streets, where arriving officers saw him go into Hands Jewelers. Police say the man, identified as 39-year-old Stephen Carter, had been yelling while brandishing a fake submachine gun.

Carter allegedly showed signs of intoxication, admitted to being drunk and had a bottle of vodka on his person. He refused breath testing.

Carter was taken into custody without incident and charged with Public Intoxication.