Iowa City Police: Homeless Man Attempted to Steal Keg Off Delivery Truck, Threatened Driver with Utility Knife

A homeless man with "a lengthy criminal history" is facing felony robbery charges after he allegedly attempted to steal a keg of beer from a beer truck Tuesday, according to an Iowa City Police criminal complaint.

At 7:23 a.m. officers were dispatched to the intersection of Benton and Gilbert Streets after a delivery driver reported confronting a man who was attempting to steal beer from the truck in that area.

The driver told police that the man, later identified as Gary Leon Duffel II, 44, address unknown, then pulled a utility knife to scare him away, and then threw the knife into the creek, according to the complaint. When the witness approached Duffel again, Duffel punched him in the head, causing bleeding in his scalp area.

Police found Duffel a block away with a torn shirt, according to the complaint. Duffel allegedly told officers the man had been bothering him for no reason.

For the incident Duffel was charged with second-degree robbery, a class C felony, and a public intoxication misdemeanor.