Hunter
04/03/22
An Iowa City man who allegedly assaulted a woman at a convenience store faces a host of charges stemming from the incident.
28-year-old Damien Gilchrist of Dover Street is reportedly seen on video from Creekside Market on Highway 6 East on Friday just after 10:30 pm, assaulting the woman and throwing her to the ground. Witnesses on scene also allege that they saw Gilchrist assault and choke the victim. He also reportedly destroyed the woman’s cellphone before leaving.
Officers located Gilchrist in the 2200 block of Davis Street shortly after the incident. He was reportedly visibly intoxicated, as evidenced by his bloodshot watery eyes, the odor of ingested alcohol, and his slurred speech. An open container of alcohol was also discovered in his running vehicle. Gilchrist refused field sobriety tests and a PBT but submitted to a Datamaster showing his blood-alcohol level at .102 percent. He allegedly admitted that he knew he would be over the legal limit to drive.
During the course of his arrest, he allegedly ignored several verbal commands to place his hands behind his back. Gilchrist reportedly made attempts to walk away from officers, and had to have his feet swept out from under him to place him on the ground and handcuff him.
While walking into the Iowa City Police Department for processing, Gilchrist allegedly kicked an officer in the knee.
Gilchrist and his alleged victim live together, and a check of his record showed two previous assault convictions, in 2015 and in 2021. He was charged with his third or subsequent offense, along with violation of a no-contact order, 3rd degree Criminal Mischief, 1st offense OWI, Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations, and Interference with Official Acts. If convicted on all counts, Gilchrist faces a prison sentence of up to ten years.