Wanted Iowa City assault suspect taken into custody

Lang
1/16/24

A wanted transient is in custody after he allegedly skipped a pair of court dates late last year relating to a pair of Iowa City assault charges.

36-year-old Miguel Garcia was booked into the Johnson County Jail just before 11:00 Monday morning. Court records show Garcia skipped his sentencing on an Assault Causing Serious Injury charge and his arraignment on a charge of Assault Causing Bodily Injury last month.

Garcia is accused of attacking a 79-year-old man who was having lunch at the Catholic Worker House on Sycamore Street last September. The alleged victim was transported to the hospital, and police say he was coughing up blood as a result of the assault.

Garcia was located a short time later, and allegedly told police he assaulted the man because, quote, “he needed it.” He also reportedly claimed that the man was saying “some weird sh–,” and again admitted that he “got” him.

Garcia pleaded guilty in October as part of a plea deal.