Iowa City man accused of break-in, knife threat

IOWA CITY - An Iowa City man is accused of breaking into a woman's home and threatening her with a knife.

According to Iowa City police criminal complaints, around 5:30 a.m. Saturday, 30-year-old Vernard Archer entered a College Street apartment while the victim was sleeping inside on the couch. Police said when the woman woke up, Archer shoved her down, held a knife to her neck and threatened to kill her.

Police said the woman screamed and alerted other residents in the apartment. Archer fled and the victim called police immediately after, police said.

Responding officers saw Archer fleeing the area through an inoperable glass door. He was located a short time later in the 600 block of Dubuque Street and positively identified by the victim. Police said Archer smelled of alcohol, told officers he had been taking shots of alcohol and referred to himself as drunk. He refused any testing and also resisted officers' orders during an interview, police said.

Archer was arrested and faces charges of first-degree burglary, a Class B felony; intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a Class C felony; interference with official acts, a simple misdemeanor; and public intoxication, a simple misdemeanor. If convicted, Archer could spend up to 35 years in prison.