Police: Man Asked to Stay at Acquaintance's House, Helps Self to $1,600 for Hotel Stay

A transient man was arrested and charged with a felony after he allegedly took advantage of an acquaintance's generosity to fund a several day stay at the Canterbury Inn.

According to an Iowa City Police report, Jason Howard Berge, 36, address unlisted, showed up at the acquaintance's house at July 28 and said he was broke and needed a place to stay for the night. Berge stayed over for the evening and then left with his belongings, according to the report, and checked into the Canterbury Inn for a six day stay.

A police report was filed soon after from the home owner saying that $1,600 and a Leatherman tool was missing from his dresser. An officer found Berge at his room at the Canterbury Inn and asked him why he took the money. Berge allegedly answered that he took the money because he had no money, and that he had about $400 left. Berge told the officer that he did have the Leatherman but "may have sold it."

Berge was booked into the Johnson County Jail and charged with second-degree theft, a Class D Felony. He is still incarcerated as of today on $15,000 according to online jail records.