Iowa City man accused of harassing woman at downtown restaurants

IOWA CITY - An Iowa City man has been arrested for routinely harassing a woman at her places of employment.

According to an Iowa City police criminal complaint, the victim - who is not named - works at two restaurants in downtown Iowa City. Police said 27-year-old Joseph P. Swanson has been 'harassing and intimidating” the woman during her shifts at both restaurants. Swanson allegedly comes into the restaurants and makes gestures and faces at the woman while she works and slaps tables as he leaves. Witnesses told officers that they have seen Swanson come into the restaurants, not order food and linger outside of the restaurants 'like he was waiting for someone,” police said. Swanson has come into the woman's workplace at least five times, police said.

Police said the woman has been forced to sleep at a friend's residence because she is afraid Swanson will find and hurt her. The woman became highly emotional when shown a picture of Swanson when she made her report to police, according to the criminal complaint.

Police said the victim and Swanson encountered each other over a year ago and he acted 'very aggressive.” He just recently discovered where she works and has been harassing her since, police said.

Swanson was arrested and faces one count of third-degree harassment, a simple misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail.