Lang
5/5/25
A suspect accused of huffing fumes in an Iowa City garage allegedly used a can of dust cleaner and a lighter to shoot flames at responding police.
Iowa City Police were called to an address on Mormon Trek Boulevard just after 5:15 Sunday night for a reported domestic assault. The alleged victim said he caught his husband, 51-year-old Christopher Gingerich, huffing dust cleaner in the garage and tried to pull the can away from him. Gingerich allegedly swung the can down onto his husband’s hand, causing small cuts.
Arriving police say they found Gingerich barricaded in the garage. Once they gained entry, he allegedly held up a lighter and sprayed the dust cleaner into it, shooting flames at the officers. Once taken into custody, Gingerich reportedly physically resisted.
Gingerich is charged with Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Injury, Interference With Official Acts Involving a Weapon, and Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations While Using a Weapon. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum of 11 years in prison.