Iowa City man accused of entering wrong apartment, damaging property

IOWA CITY - One number can make a big difference.

In Dylan Peterson's case, it meant the difference between making his way into his own apartment and going to jail.

According to Iowa City police criminal complaints, officers were called to 630 S. Capitol Street around 2:16 a.m. Wednesday for a report of a prowler inside one of the apartments. While the officers were on their way, the tenant reported a man - later identified as Peterson, 22, of Iowa City - had broken through a window and was in their living room.

Police said responding officers encountered shards of broken glass outside the apartment, as well as glass and electronics scattered around the inside of the apartment.

Officers called out to Peterson, who emerged from a bathroom wearing a T-shirt and boxers. His hands were covered in blood, police said.

Peterson told officers he had been drinking downtown and had come back to what he thought was his apartment. He was in the right building but the wrong apartment, according to criminal complaints.

Police said a survey of the apartment showed destroyed items and blood on walls, toiletries and the bed. A breath test showed Peterson's blood alcohol content was 0.243 percent.

Peterson faces charges of third-degree criminal mischief, trespass causing damage above $300 and public intoxication, all misdemeanors.

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