Iowa City man accused of punching pregnant girlfriend in stomach

An Iowa City man is charged with third-offense domestic abuse assault after punching his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach, authorities said.

Police said Curtis L. Brown, 36, of 1037 Crosspark Ave. Apt. A, assaulted his girlfriend Nov. 28 at her Iowa City home. According to a police report, the woman told officers Brown struck her in the face, pulled her hair and struck her in the stomach, knowing she was four months pregnant with their child.

All this occurred while the woman was cradling her 4-year-old. Her 2-year-old also witnessed the attack while sitting on a couch, police said.

Officers apprehended Brown even after he took the woman's phone and fled the scene after she tried to call the police, according to the report.

Brown has a previous record for domestic assault while displaying a weapon from November 2009 and domestic assault in February 2011.

He is currently being held at the Johnson County Jail on $25,000 cash bond, authorities said.