Iowa City woman arrested after courthouse tirade

IOWA CITY - An aggressive outburst directed at an alleged domestic assault victim at the Johnson County Courthouse has led to charges for an Iowa City woman.

According to Coralville police criminal complaints, on Jan. 18, 75-year-old Patricia E. Goss was at the courthouse to attend a domestic assault trial. Police said the alleged victim in the case is afraid of the suspect's family, which includes Goss.

Police said when the alleged victim was being escorted to the bathroom, Goss spotted her and began to curse and shout at her. Goss also 'moved toward the victim in an aggressive manner” and was held back by other family members, police said.

The alleged victim was escorted into the Clerk of Court office and officials in the courtroom said they could hear Goss yelling. A deputy at the courthouse exited another courtroom and removed Goss from the building.

Police said the alleged victim had already been afraid to testify in the domestic assault cause.

'After this interaction, she is even more scared to testify,” a criminal complaint states.

Goss has been arrested and faces charges of tampering with a witness or juror, an aggravated misdemeanor; third-degree harassment, a simple misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, a simple misdemeanor.

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