Maquoketa man accused of ER assault

IOWA CITY - A Maquoketa man is accused of assaulting a nursing assistant and security guard in the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics emergency room.

According to UI Department of Public Safety criminal complaints, the assaults happened at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 6. Police said 24-year-old Austin C. Streets was in the emergency room and punched a nursing assistant in the head two or three times. Streets is also accused of punching a security guard in the face three times and head butting him in the face two times.

In addition to the assaults, Streets allegedly punched a hole in the wall of the check out office in the emergency department. Police estimated the damage at $400.

Streets has been arrested and faces charges of assault on people in certain occupations, assault causing bodily injury and fourth-degree criminal mischief. All three charges are serious misdemeanors and punishable by up to one year in jail.