Coralville man assaulted woman, stole her car, Iowa City police say

A Coralville man is accused of assaulting a woman and stealing her car.

According to Iowa City police criminal complaints, 50-year-old Benjamin F. Gordon III and the victim – who is not identified – got into an argument around 11:30 Tuesday night over Gordon taking the woman's car without her permission.

Police said the woman told Gordon to leave her Iowa City residence or she would call 911. The argument turned physical, police said.

According to the criminal complaints, the woman attempted to call 911, but Gordon pushed her off her bed and onto the floor. Police said he then got on top of the woman and put his hand across her nose and mouth, restricting her breathing for 15 seconds.

The woman later told police she “feared for her life,” during the altercation with Gordon. The fall from the bed also left the woman with injuries that required medical attention.

Police said Gordon got up and left the residence in the woman's car before police could arrive.

Officers found Gordon driving the stolen car at 12:22 a.m. Police said Gordon smelled like alcohol, had blood shot, watery eyes and admitted to having “a little to drink.” He refused field sobriety and breath tests.

Gordon was taken to the Johnson County Jail where he faces charges of second-degree robbery, second-degree theft, domestic assault impeding the flow of air and drunken driving.