Traffic stop on Iowa City man wanted on assault warrant leads to drug charges

Hunter
12/08/23

An Iowa City man wanted on an assault charge was arrested early Thursday morning after a traffic stop reportedly discovered crystal meth on his person.

42-year-old Larry Johnson of Taylor Drive was pulled over near the intersection of Sand Road and 520th Street because his plate lights weren’t functional.  A check of records found the arrest warrant, and the sheriff’s deputy asked Johnson out of the vehicle.

A subsequent pat-down reportedly found a bag containing 34 grams of a crystal-like substance rolled up in his pant leg. In the bag were 17 2-ounce baggies packaged for delivery.

The assault warrant stemmed from an November 22nd incident on H Street. Johnson and the victim were engaged in a verbal altercation when he allegedly pulled out a folding pocket knife, opened it, and told the victim he was going to kill her.  Johnson reportedly swung the knife at her twice and cut her forearm, leaving two lacerations of approximately 1-2 inches.  He also poked the woman in the hip with the tip  of the knife, causing a small laceration.

Johnson was charged with Assault while Displaying a Dangerous Weapon for the November incident; for Thursday’s traffic stop, he was charged with a Class B Controlled Substance violation and Failure to Affix Drug Stamp.

If convicted on all pending charges, Johnson could be sentenced to up to 32 years in prison.