Allegedly intoxicated, armed subject arrested at Iowa City emergency shelter

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Lang
12/5/25

Iowa City Police have arrested an allegedly armed and intoxicated subject at the city’s emergency shelter.

Officers were called to the Southgate Avenue facility just after 12:15 Friday morning for a verbal altercation. Arriving police say 47-year-old Michael Stratford showed signs of impairment and was in possession of a Taurus handgun. He refused breath testing and a urine sample.

Stratford, who lists his address as Shelter House, was arrested and charged with Person Ineligible to Carry a Weapon, Possession of a Weapon while Intoxicated, and Public Intoxication. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum of 25 months in jail.