Hunter
06/16/25
An Iowa City man in custody for an alleged robbery in April faces additional charges after reportedly assaulting jail staff.
43-year-old Derrill Jones allegedly took a woman’s silver lighter by force near the Englert Theatre the evening of April 24th and was found with a pipe used for smoking drugs. He also reportedly threatened to kill the woman. He was taken into custody and remains there awaiting trial.
Jones had a case management conference Friday and waived his right to a speedy trial. Judge Andrew Chappell reset his jury trial from July 15th to September 2nd.
That night, deputies approached Jones to move him to a different cell block due to his reportedly trying to instigate a fight with another inmate in his current block. He was asked numerous times to come out of his cell, and Jones allegedly clenched his fists and walked toward deputies. He then punched one of them in the ear, causing it to bleed. Jones reportedly also cut his hand throwing the punch.
Jones continued to resist while on the ground and grabbed another deputy while he was being handcuffed, causing them to bleed as well. He also reportedly yelled, “Bitch, I’ll kill you!”
The deputies had their own blood along with Jones’ blood on their uniforms and skin as a result of the incident.
Jones now faces two additional counts of Assault by Inmate with Bodily Secretions and could be sentenced to up to ten years in prison if convicted. The robbery charge also carries a maximum ten year prison sentence.