Hunter
07/09/25
An Iowa City man was taken into custody earlier this week after allegedly being discovered occupying a vacant home.
An officer responded to a residence on the 300 block of Beldon Avenue Monday at approximately 6:45pm on reports of someone possibly being in part of a vacant residence. The reporting party advised that there was a bicycle on the porch that hadn’t previously been there. The owner of the residence was contacted, and he said no one should be living there.
The property’s maintenance person attempted to do a walk through with the officer to confirm there was no one there. They discovered the downstairs was unsecured and had a broken window. The upper portion was locked, and a window was broken to gain entry.
39-year-old transient Joseph Velazquez reportedly answered when the officer called out if anyone was inside. He allegedly refused to come downstairs repeatedly for an extended period of time.
Velasquez eventually came downstairs but refused to identify himself. Another officer was able to positively identify him. It was then learned that he had a warrant for his arrest for not appearing for arraignment on a 2nd degree Theft charge on April 28th.
Velazquez was charged with Interference with Official Acts and Trespass. With the theft charge, he could be sentenced to over five years in prison if convicted on all counts.