Police: Motorist Swerved Toward Trio of Children, Punched 12-Year-Old in the Face

An Iowa City man was charged with a serious felony after he allegedly swerved his vehicle toward three boys and punched one of them in the face multiple times.

According to an Iowa City Police complaint, on June 7 at 9:30 p.m. David Garcia Jr., 18, of Iowa City, was driving near the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville when he saw three boys walking nearby. Garcia allegedly swerved his car directly at the boys, causing them to have to jump into the nearby grass to avoid being hit.

Garcia allegedly told police that he had swerved to "scare the boys" and this had apparently worked, as the boys told police that they feared Garcia would run them over.

After swerving, Garcia got out of his car and allegedly punched one of the boys, a 12-year-old, twice in the face, giving him a cut lip and a black eye. Garcia allegedly admitted to punching the boy after being read his Miranda rights by police.

Garcia was booked into the Johnson County Jail at 3:30 a.m. last Friday and is now in the Muscatine County Jail on $25,000 bond, according to online jail records. He was charged with intimidation with a deadly weapon with no intent, a Class C felony, and assault causing serious injury, a serious misdemeanor.