Police: Iowa City Woman Tased After Resisting Arrest, Punching Officer Several Times in Groin
The woman allegedly resisted arrest after being taken to the Johnson County Jail.
An Iowa City woman threatened and attacked officers after she was brought to the Johnson County Jail, according to a criminal complaint from the Johnson County Sheriff's Department.
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According to the complaint, on Nov. 3 at 4:20 p.m., Ayla Shay Mcfarland, 21, of Iowa City was transported at Code 3 (emergency mode) to the Johnson County Jail by Coralville Police Officers. The complaint said that Mcfarland was combatative, and resisted being put into handcuffs, telling the officers at the jail that she would fight them.
Officers then asked Mcfarland to get out of the vehicle, and she refused, according to the complaint. At this point the officers pulled her from the vehicle and "directed her to the ground," at which point the fighting escalated, with Mcfarland punching one officer in the groin area "approximately three times."
The officers then used a Taser on Mcfarland in the back and put her in a restraining chair. At this point, Mcfarland threatened the officers, saying that she would shoot them in the face and drink their blood, according to the complaint.
Mcfarland was charged with assault on a peace officer, a serious misdemeanor. As of Monday evening, she was still in the Johnson County Jail on $5,000 cash-only bond.
Chris Liebig
9:34 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
I have to wonder whether using a Taser might be excessive force when multiple police officers are trying to arrest a single unarmed person.
Mark Wilson
4:28 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
That is so stupid. If you don't want tazed, don't hit a cop. Nothing to wonder about here.
kat
4:40 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
"excessive force" ... is a joke ... don't you know, Citizen, that no matter what you've been through, what your mental condition is, what kind of chemicals you may have ingested, or how bat shiat crazy you are .... when Mr. Law says you hold the f*** still, you do it... not doing so will result in incapacitation, Citizen, so consider your choice.
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Chris Liebig
10:45 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
So Mark, are you saying that hitting a police officer gives the officer a right to do *anything* to you? (After all, if you don't want that to happen, don't hit the officer?) No force can ever be excessive in that situation?
Alan E. Scher
10:45 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Keep wondering.
Giles Corey
4:48 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
A misdemeanor? She assaulted a police officer, are you kidding? People are overconcerned with gender. Male or female, this kind of offence merits serious prison time.
threadkiller
6:18 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
what's a "serious misdemeanor?" is that a legal term, or something you just made up?
Jon Trouten
10:45 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
There are simple, serious, and aggravated misdemeanors. "In comparison misdemeanors are not given letters but rather titles instead. Misdemeanor classes are decided by the number of subsequent offenses. A first misdemeanor offense is called a Simple Misdemeanor, a second offense is named as a Serious Misdemeanor, and a third offense is called an Aggravated Misdemeanor. After a third offense, the crime is changed to a Class D Felony with imprisonment up to five years and as much as a seventy-five thousand dollar fine. Serious Misdemeanors fall into the middle category of Iowa misdemeanors. Convictions include up to a year in a county jail and a fine between three hundred fifteen dollars and eighteen hundred seventy-five dollars. This kind of charge also includes substance abuse evaluation, drinking drivers courses, probation, and restitution, if any available. Serious Misdemeanors often include charges in relation to driving while intoxicated."
bob arbuckle
7:14 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
People having mental episodes do not have the ability to cotrol their actions or thoughts. Sadly they get jail time onstead of pyschiactric help.
Maria Houser Conzemius
10:45 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
+1, bob arbuckle. I was thinking the same thing. God only knows who "brought up" this child. Thanks to an *outstanding* parenting job (not), she could be genuinely dangerous.
Donnie Morlan
10:45 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
So Bob, you want her running around a locked psych unit terrorizing the other patients. They can give her meds in jail and more easily keep her from harming others.
Shoshanna
8:53 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Maria don't jump to conclusions so quickly, she was raised by a wonderful family. All of us kids turned out very well. Unfortunately she had some detrimental things happen to her in her life and lost her way. Hopefully she gets back on track in life and finds her way again.
Tabitha Rasmussen
11:10 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Maria, it surprises me that a social worker would make such an ignorant and hurtful comment. There are many people who have been brought up well and still suffer from psychiatric issues. Please think twice before you post.
Tabitha Rasmussen
11:10 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Donnie, why do you think our jail system is so full? Inmates don't get the psychiatric care they need to be successful out of the system.
Ariana Rasmussen
11:49 am on Thursday, November 8, 2012
I have a wonderful and supportive family, we were raised by the best mother anyone could ask for. Bob thank you for your kind words. As for many others maybe you should try not to be so judgemental since you have no idea what you're talking about. Unfortunately this is another fine example of what happens when the healthcare system yet again fails.
Matthew Morris McCormick
1:34 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
I know this young lady, and she needs help, not jail time. I know her family, and as her sisters have already commented, she was raised in a loving, supportive environment by a mother whose parenting skills would put other parents to shame. Bob Arbuckle, thank you for your concise and accurate comments. As for most of the rest of you, please try to take away this: There are many sides to every story. Please don't pass judgement on someone-anyone-based on just one perspective. This story does not cover Ayla's religious beliefs (deep), her struggle with her self-identity, her support network, and POSSIBLE psychiatric issues. Please comment using your brain and heart, not just your gut.
Matthew Morris McCormick
2:13 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
Maria Conzemius, based on the comment you made, please stick to writing, rather than Social Work. You may not have the compassion needed for Social Work. Just something to think about on your own journey through life.
Maria Houser Conzemius
4:05 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
Matthew Morris McCormick, you're too close to the situation and also too much in full-fledged denial to assess this situation objectively. Keep your defensive, ad hominem attacks to yourself.