A late-night restroom line at an Iowa City fast food restaurant turned into a criminal case after a 19-year-old Marion woman allegedly punched another customer in the face. Police say the fight started over who was next in line for the bathroom and ended with an assault charge.
According to the The Mighty 1630 KCJJ, the incident happened just before 2:30 Sunday morning at Raisin’ Cane’s in the Old Capitol Town Center in Iowa City. University of Iowa Police identified the woman accused in the altercation as Dasia Woods, 19, of Marion, per that same account.
Police say Woods cut in front of another woman who was waiting to use the restroom. When the other woman pointed out that Woods had cut the line, the station’s report says Woods responded with a threat: “Do you want to get smacked?”
Restroom Dispute Escalates To A Punch
The argument didn’t stop there. Per the police account relayed in the same report, Woods then punched the other woman in the face. Officers subsequently charged Woods with assault causing bodily injury, according to the outlet’s reporting.
Iowa law treats assault resulting in bodily injury or mental illness as a serious misdemeanor, according to the Iowa Legislature. The statute states that “a person who commits an assault, as defined in section 708.1, and who causes bodily injury or mental illness, is guilty of a serious misdemeanor.”
The case stands as a reminder that even a seemingly minor dispute over bathroom etiquette can carry real legal consequences under Iowa’s assault statute.
