Lang
9/24/25
A drunk driving suspect is accused of assaulting and injuring an Iowa City Police officer.
Officers were dispatched to a report of an intoxicated subject trespassing at Taco Bell on Highway 6 East just after 1:45 Wednesday morning. Taco Bell staff provided a license plate number, which showed the vehicle belonged to 36-year-old Michael Barnhart. Investigators say they found the running car outside Barnhart’s Keokuk Street apartment building with him still in the driver’s seat.
Barnhart reportedly showed signs of intoxication and refused all breath and field sobriety testing. He was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated – 3rd or Subsequent Offense.
Police say Barnhart fought with officers, including kicking and thrashing at them. One officer suffered a laceration to his elbow and pain in his hand. Another officer was kicked in the shoulder.
Once Barnhart was forced into the back of a squad car, he allegedly began kicking at the door, causing about $1,500 in damage to the paneling. Deputies at the jail say he continued physically resisting when they tried to take him inside.
Barnhart is charged with two counts of Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations and one count each of Interference With Official Acts Causing Bodily Injury, 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief, Driving While Barred, and Driving While Denied or Revoked. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of 17 years in prison.