Homeless man arrested in Iowa City after knife attack

IOWA CITY - A homeless man is accused of threatening people with a knife.

According to an Iowa City police criminal complaint, around 12:30 a.m. Sunday, 44-year-old Michael K. Phelps threatened three people in the alley of the 400 block of East Market Street. Phelps harassed the group for 'looking like drug users” and pulled a knife on them, police said.

Phelps allegedly told one victim, 'I'll gut you like a pig,” police said.

The three victims fled when they thought Phelps was going to stab them. Police found Phelps a few hours later after he attempted to attack someone on the University of Iowa campus. A knife was found in his pocket, police said.

Phelps admitted to being in the confrontation with a group of people near 400 E. Market St. He was arrested and faces charges of assault while displaying a weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor; third-degree harassment, trespass and disorderly conduct; all simple misdemeanors.