ICPD: Transient who declared diplomatic immunity tried urinating in Chipotle kitchen, chose public mailbox instead
Lang
4/11/19
Police say a local transient who attempted to use diplomatic immunity to avoid arrest last weekend has been arrested again, this time after he tried urinating in the kitchen at the downtown Iowa City Chipotle…instead choosing a public mailbox to do his business.
Iowa City Police were called to the Old Capitol Town Center just after 6:30 Tuesday night after Chipotle staff chased 36-year-old Joseph Pospishil from the premises. Witnesses say Pospishil had attempted to urinate in Chipotle’s kitchen, but was stopped by staff.
Pospishil then walked through the mall, exited near CVS and urinated on a public mailbox near Clinton Street.
Pospishil showed multiple signs of intoxication, had mumbled, incoherent speech and poor balance. He was arrested and charged with Public Intoxication.
Pospishil refused pre- and post-arrest breath testing.
Pospishil attempted to declare diplomatic immunity after an arrest last weekend. According to police, Pospishil entered the Waterfront Drive HyVee Saturday night, took items and went to the Market area. Store personnel observed Pospishil open a bottle of whiskey and start to drink it without paying for it. When confronted by management, he said the whiskey was paid for, and that he had diplomatic immunity.
When officers arrived, they asked Pospishil if he paid the store any money for the alcohol. He allegedly said no, but it was paid for. Pospishil had no means to pay for the whiskey, which was worth about $46.
Pospishil had previously been trespassed from the store in January.
He continued the next night at the North Dubuque Street Casey’s. He’s accused of going into the store, taking a slice of pizza and a beverage from the cooler and walking out without paying. He returned about 9:15pm and got another piece of pizza and a bottle of Old English beer and again left without paying. Officers located Pospishil behind the store, and he had the bottle of Old English beer still in his possession.
He’s been charged a simple misdemeanor for the HyVee incident and an aggravated misdemeanor for the incidents at Casey’s. On those charges alone, Pospishil could be sentenced to up to 25 months in prison.
