Hunter
06/08/21
An Iowa City man has been taken into custody after a series of harassments and assaults involving a woman he was in a dating relationship with.
According to police reports, 28-year-old Donye Rowan of Sterling Drive began harassing the victim on March 24th, when he sent her a text stating that he was going to kill her before the night was over. He also told the victim he wanted to shoot or fight that day.
The harassment allegedly turned physical on March 26th. Reportedly, Rowan became upset at the woman and physically restrained her on a bed. The woman tried to push Rowan off of her and told him he was hurting her. Rowan allegedly proceeded to bite her on the upper left arm, forearm and breast. She protested that he was hurting her, and Rowan reportedly told her to “take it.” The incident left multiple bruises on the woman’s body.
The next incident occurred in a parking lot on the Coralville Strip the evening of April 7th. Rowan allegedly grabbed the victim by the neck and proceeded to slap her across the face, giving her a bloody lip.
Rowan is accused of assaulting the victim while in his vehicle again on April 24th as they were traveling along Interstate 380 at approximately 9pm. He reportedly became upset with the woman again and backhanded her across her face, giving her a bloody mouth and lip. Rowan reportedly stopped the vehicle and forced the woman to clean the blood off, telling her that the injuries weren’t that bad.
The last incident occurred the evening of May 18th when Rowan allegedly sent multiple texts to the woman, threatening to kill her. Police say messages included “I’ll strangle you and that lil boy to death,” “Ima kill you,” and also stated that he was going to set the victim’s residence on fire. Rowan reportedly gave his full name, date of birth and birthplace in the text conversation to confirm who the texts were coming from after making the threats.
A warrant was issued for Rowan’s arrest, and he was booked into the Johnson County Jail early Tuesday. He’s been charged with 3 counts each of 1st degree Harassment and Assault causing Bodily Injury. If convicted on all six counts, Rowan could be sentenced to up to 9 years in prison. A no contact order was requested between Rowan and the victim.
