Four arrested in Shelter House brawl
Lang
6/5/19
Four people were arrested after a brawl outside Shelter House Tuesday evening.
Iowa City Police were called to the Southgate Avenue facility just after 5pm for a report of subjects fighting in the parking lot. Arriving officers arrested two Shelter House residents, 32-year-old Travis Bertrand and 21-year-old Cody White, as well as 54-year-old Don Fountain of Boston Way in Coralville and 27-year-old Joseph Johnson of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
An investigation determined that the incident began as a verbal altercation involving racial slurs. Bertrand, White and Fountain are white, and Johnson is black. Bertrand is seen on video landing a punch, while Johnson is seen hitting one of the other men with a drop-kick. The fight was also witnessed by Shelter House staff.
Johnson claimed he was the one targeted. He was found a few blocks away at the Waterfront Hy-Vee, where he was taken into custody. Police say he showed multiple signs of intoxication, yelled racial slurs at officers, resisted arrest and head-butted the patrol car, causing $1,200 in damages.
All four men are charged with Disorderly Conduct. Johnson faces additional charges of Public Intoxication, Interference with Official Acts and 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief. If convicted, he faces a maximum of over five years in prison.
The other three men face a maximum of 30 days in jail.
