UIHC patient who punched employee arrested on warrant

Hunter
08/04/20

A patient at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in March has been arrested on an assault warrant.

The incident occurred at 8:30pm on March 28th, when 71-year-old Joseph Russo of Des Moines was a patient. Reports indicate that he was refusing to take ordered medications. An employee was attempting to speak with Russo about taking his medications, when Russo allegedly sucker-punched the victim in the jaw just below the left ear. The impact of the blow caused the employee to lose consciousness and to have swelling, pain and redness at the site of the punch.

A warrant for Russo’s arrest was issued the next day, and he was booked into the Johnson County Jail at 9:03am Monday. He’s been charged with Assault causing Bodily Injury, a serious misdemeanor punishable by a jail sentence of up to one year if convicted.