Hunter
03/14/23
An Iowa City man faces several charges after an alleged assault on a victim with a baseball bat.
According to the arrest reports, 58-year-old Mark Staley of Cross Park Avenue got into some type of altercation with the victim on Sunday evening. Just after midnight, Staley entered the victim’s apartment, located in his building, and struck him with a bat multiple times. The victim had to be taken to a hospital for treatment to the multiple injuries to his head, face and legs suffered in the attack.
Staley denied the attack, but surveillance video showed him exiting the victim’s apartment with the bat. He then reportedly hid the baseball bat in his closet and again denied ever having the bat in his possession.
Shortly before 3am, officers were called to the residence due to Staley’s allegedly keeping other residents awake with his screaming. An officer arrived to find Staley yelling at another officer in a hallway while holding a half-drank bottle of whiskey in his hands. Because of his confrontational behavior, the officer placed Staley under arrest. He resisted attempts to handcuff him and had to be pepper sprayed in order to be subdued. Staley also reportedly spit in the officer’s face as he was being placed on an ambulance cot.
Warrants for Staley’s arrest were secured and executed at 5pm Monday. A search incident to arrest allegedly turned up brass knuckles in his pocket. Staley is a convicted felon and therefore ineligible to carry dangerous weapons.
Staley faces charges of Willful Injury causing Serious Injury, Going Armed With Intent, Public Intoxication, Interference with Official Acts, Assault on a Peace Officer, and Carrying Weapons. If convicted on all counts, Staley could be sentenced to over 17 years in prison.