Tiffin man, 20, arrested in connection with July stabbing

IOWA CITY - A Tiffin man faces prison time for allegedly stabbing a man during an altercation earlier this year.

According to Iowa City police criminal complaints, around 10:40 p.m. July 24, a man - who is not identified in the complaints - approached Jamaal T. Brooks, 20, of Tiffin, while he was sitting in his vehicle at 812 S. First Ave. Police said the man started an argument with Brooks until Brooks got out of the vehicle and a fight ensued.

Police said at some point during the fight the man was stabbed in the chest with a sharp object, causing him to suffer a deep cut and punctured lung. Brooks fled the scene in a vehicle, police said.

Brooks admitted to being in a fight with the other subject, but did not admit to stabbing him, police said. Brooks allegedly told officers he remembers the man getting off the ground with blood on his chest.

Police said Brooks could have driven away from the verbal confrontation rather than engage in the fight with the other suspect.

Brooks was arrested around 11 p.m. Tuesday at Wal-Mart, 919 Highway 1 West, when he was caught trying to steal rabbit food and a Chrome Cast cable device. Police said Brooks also tried to run over someone at Wal-Mart with a motorized shopping cart and shoved the female victim to the ground. He was also observed on video damaging security wiring for merchandise, police said.

When Brooks was taken into custody, he was found with the stolen merchandise, as well as a set of brass knuckles. Police said Brooks fought with and spit at officers while they were investigating the Wal-Mart incident.

Brooks faces charges of willful injury causing serious injury, a felony, and carrying weapons, an aggravated misdemeanor. He also faces charges of fifth-degree criminal mischief, assault, interference with official acts and fifth-degree theft.

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