Lang
12/11/22
A transient faces charges that he’s been harassing an employee of the City of Iowa City.
According to arrest records, just after 3:15pm on December 1st 52-year-old Joseph Purdy was seen outside the Rec Center on South Gilbert Street yelling at windows to offices used by city staffers.
When one employee left the building to walk to City Hall, Purdy allegedly followed her at a short distance while yelling at her and calling her names, including calling her “cream cheese”.
The woman ignored Purdy and kept walking, hoping he would stop following her. Police say Purdy followed her all the way to City Hall, eventually waiting outside for several minutes after she arrived and went inside. The woman told police she has had previous unreported encounters with Purdy, who has been banned from the Rec Center since August.
Purdy, who has no known address, is charged with 3rd Degree Harassment. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 30 days in jail.
A no-contact order was put into place on Wednesday, and on Friday Judge Deborah Minot set a case management conference for December 29th.