Coralville man accused of assaulting man, pregnant woman in Iowa City

A Coralville man is accused of assault causing bodily injury and simple assault after authorities say he struck a man and his pregnant sister in Iowa City.

According to Iowa City police, Harry T. Banks, 45, of 421 Sixth Avenue, Coralville, allegedly struck the pair at 9:20 a.m. Aug. 16 after getting into an altercation with the man, who is the father of his sister's children.

According to Iowa City Police Sgt. Denise Brotherton, the situation began when the man and Banks' sister were walking in the Pedestrian Mall. Banks allegedly came up behind the pair and hit the man in the back of the head.

"Then there was an altercation between the man and Banks," Brotherton said. "The female got between the males to break it up, and then she got hit."

Records indicate that the woman was struck during the altercation and that Banks allegedly tried to punch her in the stomach. The woman suffered minor injuries, including small bruises on her biceps.

"We do not know whether there were any more serious injuries, but it was reported that she was not actually hit in the stomach," Brotherton said.

Brotherton says that instead of walking away from the altercation, Banks spit on the man, and two unknown witnesses in the Pedestrian Mall then stepped in to break up the fight.

"The man and woman then came in to the Police Department to report the incident, and since Banks could not be located, a warrant was obtained for his arrest," Brotherton said.

The warrant for Banks' arrest was issued Aug. 19, Brotherton said.

Banks was being held at the Johnson County Jail Tuesday morning, waiting to appear before a judge.