No charges in Washington, Iowa bar death, but police promise crackdown

No charges will be filed in the death of a patron after a fight at a Washington, Iowa, bar, Washington police chief Greg Goodman and Washington County Attorney Barb Edmondson announced today.

However, Goodman said the circumstances that led to the death of Robert Blankenship in November 2009 are unacceptable and "illustrate problems with at least two of our local bars."

"We now have a major incident which could have been avoided," Goodman said in a statement released today in conjunction with the decision not to file charges in Blankenship's death.

Goodman said Washington, Iowa police will begin more stringently enforcing alcohol and criminal codes in local bars, noting that "results have not been satisfactory" from previous conversations with some bar owners.

He said officers will begin conducting detailed bar checks, including checking ID's inside bars, speaking with bartenders, checking alcohol levels of patrons and watching bars at closing time for intoxicated patrons causing problems.

Police found Blankenship, 45, of Washington, unconscious in the parking lot of the Fourth Avenue Bar and Grill at 1:30 a.m. Nov. 22. Witnesses said people had been fighting in the area where Blankenship was found.

Blankenship was taken to the Washington County Hospital and transferred to University Hospitals in Iowa City, where he was pronounced dead.

Press release from Washington Police Department, including detailed description of the events of Nov. 22, 2009:

Washington, Iowa Bars

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