Hunter
05/28/25
An Iowa City man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting staff at a downtown bar last year.
At about 12:40am December 21st, 28-year-old Joshua Phillips of Orchard Street was approached by bar staff at El-Ray’s Live and Dive on Iowa Avenue and asked to leave. He reportedly refused, and staff attempted to physically remove him from the premises. Phillips allegedly resisted and struck an employee.
Once he was eventually ejected from the bar, he reportedly confronted an employee outside and struck him in the face, causing minor lacerations and bleeding.
A warrant was issued for Phillips’ arrest on February 12th; he remained at large until being booked into the Johnson County Jail Monday evening. He could face up to 13 months of jail time if convicted of Assault causing Bodily Injury and Disorderly Conduct charges.