Police: Officers Pepper Spray Mug Thief at Jazz Fest After He Resisted Arrest

Iowa City Police officers used pepper spray on a Cedar Rapids man Sunday after he allegedly resisted arrest, following him causing a ruckus on the last day of Jazz Fest downtown.

According to an Iowa City Police complaint, officers were called to the scene of a theft complaint from Whitey's Ice Cream on Sunday at 3:23 p.m. Todd Michael Hulfish, 45, of Cedar Rapids was in possession of a Whitey's coffee mug, estimated in value at $50, according to the complaint, which he had allegedly stolen from the business.

Hulfish matched the description given and officers approached him and asked him to put his hands behind his back to be handcuffed, according to the complaint. Hulfish allegedly refused and continued to refuse even after the officers repeated the request and then tried to physically force him into the cuffs. The officers then used pepper spray to subdue Hulfish, taking him to the ground to apply the cuffs.

Hulfish was charged with third-degree theft, an aggravated misdemeanor, due to being convicted for theft two previous times on Nov. 19, 2003 and Jan. 14, 2009. He also was charged with resisting arrest, a simple misdemeanor. He is still is being held in the Johnson County Jail according to online jail records.