Crime & Safety
Police: Iowa City Man With Shovel Had Military Knife, Threatened to Use AK47
A 31-year-old faces three charges after the alleged Thursday morning incident.
An Iowa City man allegedly planned to use a shovel, a knife, and possibly an assault rifle to "deal with a guy" early Thursday morning.
Joshua Starr, 31, of Iowa City, is charged with harassment, carrying a concealed weapon, and disorderly conduct after a run-in with Iowa City officers.
Officers say they saw Starr banging on a dumpster in an alley on South Dodge Street around 1:30 a.m. Thursday. Starr allegedly was holding a shovel and told officers he was there to "deal with a guy who was harrassing people." Starr allegedly told officers he had "invited the guy upstairs" to talk while he had the shovel.
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Officers say they found a long military-style blade in Starr's vehicle, which Starr allegedly said he carries for protection. Reports from the Iowa City Police Department also say Starr made threats about killing people with his AK47, which he reportedly said was located at his house.