Man calls Iowa City police to report assault, gets punched again

A man called police early Tuesday morning to report that he'd been punched while on the Iowa City pedestrian mall, and he was punched again by a second person while he was on the phone, police said.

The man, whose name was not released, told 911 dispatchers around 2 a.m. he had just been assaulted in the 100 block of East College Street and was following the person who did it. While he was speaking with police, a friend of the original assailant punched the man and knocked him to the ground in the 100 block of East Washington Street, police said.

The victim was treated at University Hospitals for what are believed to be minor injuries to the head.

According to the police report, the first assailant is described as a white male, around 19 or 20 years old, between 5-foot-6 and 6-foot-2, wearing a gray or white shirt and gray shorts. He was last seen walking north on Clinton Street from Washington Street, accompanied by a female.

The second assailant, described as a white male between 18 and 19 years old, was seen going east on Washington Street.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Iowa City Area CrimeStoppers at (319) 358-TIPS (8477). CrimeStoppers has offered a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest of either suspect. Callers should refer to incident No. 2010-027004.