Iowa City man charged with lighting air conditioning unit on fire

An Iowa City man was arrested Tuesday on charges that he lit an air conditioning unit on fire in the alley behind a downtown Iowa City bar.

Kenneth Michael Davis, 43, was seen on surveillance video Monday night behind DC’s Sports Bar, at 124 S Dubuque St., pulling out a lighter and setting an air conditioning unit on fire and then walking away, according to criminal complaints.

  Buy Photo

The air conditioning unit was heavily damaged with burn marks on the inside and outside and deemed inoperable. The damages were estimated to cost about $6,000. People were inside the bar when the unit was set ablaze.

Davis admitted to police that he set fire to the unit, the complaints state. He also admitted to attempting to break into a car earlier in the night and causing about $350 worth of damage to a car mirror.

He is charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, second-degree criminal mischief and first-degree arson. He had his first appearance in court Tuesday and was being held on a $36,000 bail.

Comments: (319) 398-8328; emily.andersen@thegazette.com