Police find marijuana growing after Iowa City assault report

Police said they found several marijuana plants growing in a residence after responding to an alleged assault in North Liberty.

According to criminal complaints, a woman came to police Sunday morning saying she and her two young sons were at the home of 40-year-old James T. Richter, 1820 Curtis Bridge Road NE in North Liberty. Police said the woman told them Richter's dog allegedly bit one of her children, which caused Richter to become angry.

Police said Richter then allegedly began to yell at the woman and spit on her. Richter then came at the woman with a gun, grabbed her by the throat and slammed her against the wall. The woman told police this caused her a lot of pain in the neck and she felt she “might pass out.”

Richter also allegedly threw a coffee table in the home which struck her other son, police said. Both the woman and the son who Richter injured with a table required medical treatment.

Police were then able to obtain a search warrant for Richter's residence after speaking to the woman. During a search of the residence, police found 19 marijuana plants, several of which were under grow lights. Police also found multiple items consistent with a marijuana manufacturing operation.

Richter admitted the plants belong to him and said he grows the plants for medicinal purposes, police said.

Richter was arrested and charged with assault causing injury while displaying a weapon, assault causing injury, possession of marijuana with intent to manufacture and an Iowa drug tax stamp violation. He is being held in the Johnson County Jail on a $27,500 cash only bond.