Two area men arrested for participation in large downtown Iowa City fight last weekend
Hunter
05/11/23
Two area men have been arrested for their alleged participation in a large fight outside a downtown Iowa City establishment which saw three people stabbed.
According to the police reports, Lake Newton of West Liberty had just turned 21 last Friday. Just before 2am Saturday a large fight occurred outside of Bardot that spilled into South Gilbert Street. Newton reportedly was captured on multiple bystander videos throwing numerous punches, and holding one of the victims so that he could be attacked. The victim was then allegedly body-slammed to the concrete by Newton, knocking him unconscious.
When officers arrived on scene, the victim was bleeding and nearly unresponsive. Broken eyeglasses were also reportedly recovered from the scene that matched photos of Newton located throughout social media.
Police say three subjects were stabbed during the fight.
Another subject, 28-year-old Victor Torres Molina of the Breckenridge Estates manufactured housing community, was named by numerous witnesses as being involved in the incident. He was also reportedly seen inside Bardot by witnesses who were present for the riot.
Police executed several search warrants on Wednesday, and detectives located shoes with possible blood on them. Post-Miranda, Torres-Molina reportedly admitted to being present for the fight but denied stabbing anyone. He did, however, admit to kicking a subject who was on the ground. Bystander video showed that the subject was the unconscious victim that Newton had body—slammed.
Both Newton and Torres-Molina were taken into custody Wednesday and charged with Participating in a Riot. Newton also faces charges of Willful Injury causing Serious Injury. Torres-Molina was additionally charged with Assault while Participating in a Felony. If convicted on the charges, Newton faces up to 15 years in prison; Torres-Molina could be sentenced to up to ten years.
