Lang
5/18/25
An Iowa City Police officer reports being assaulted by a transient outside the Emma Goldman Clinic.
The officer was called to the North Dubuque Street facility just before 1:30 Saturday afternoon for a suspicious person on the property who was acting erratically, screaming profanity and pacing back-and-forth. The person in question, 45-year-old John Starr, allegedly screamed at the arriving officer to stay back. He then reportedly lied down on the ground in a prone position before getting back up and raking his hands across the officer’s vest, dislodging the officer’s pepper spray. The officer says Starr then kicked the pepper spray can into the street.
Multiple officers were required to take Starr into custody, as he allegedly physically resisted and needed to be pepper sprayed during his arrest.
Starr is charged with Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations and Interference With Official Acts. If convicted on both counts, he faces a maximum of 13 months in jail.