Iowa City Police: Seattle Man Accused of Groping Woman out on Sunday Walk

A Seattle man is facing misdemeanor sexual assault charges after he allegedly groped a woman who was out for a Sunday morning walk in Iowa City.

According to a media release from the , officers were called to the intersection of Market and Dubuque Streets at 5:43 a.m. for a report of two women saying a man was acting suspiciously.

The women met with the officer and reported that they had been out on a Sunday morning walk when a man ran up to them from across the street and asked them for the time, according to the release. As one woman answered, the woman said that he started "to touch her inappropriately" in such a way that made them fear that he was attempting to sexually assault her. The woman not being groped yelled at her companion to run and the two women broke off and ran away to call the police.

Officers received a description of the man and searched the city for him, finding someone with his likeness at the intersection of Highway 6 and Iowa Avenue, according to the release. The two women later positively identified the man as Michael Christopher Rizzo of Seattle, WA.

For the incident, Rizzo, 46, was charged with assault with the intent to commit sexual abuse and public intoxication. Assault with the intent to commit sexual abuse is an aggravated misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment of up to two years and/or a mandatory fine between $500 and $5,000. Public intoxication is a simple misdemeanor.