Iowa City man accused of threatening to kill ICPD officers

Lang
4/30/23

Iowa City Police say a man yelling racial slurs at bar patrons late Saturday night also threatened to kill the responding officers.

According to arrest records, 30-year-old Brian Almendarez of Prairie du Chien Road had been causing issues and exhibiting fighting behavior towards staff members and yelling racial epithets at people waiting in line at El Ray’s Live and Dive on East Iowa Avenue just after 11pm. Almendarez reportedly refused to put his hands behind his back when told by police he was under arrest. He had to be taken to the ground, at which point he allegedly threatened to kill the officer on the scene as well as other officers.

Almendarez was eventually taken to the Johnson County Jail, where he was reportedly found with marijuana on his person.

Almendarez is charged with 1st Degree Harassment, Public Intoxication, Interference With Official Acts, Possession of Contraband in a Correctional Facility, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of over eight years in prison.