IOWA CITY – An Iowa man with a history of domestic abuse was caught on video punching his girlfriend, then hitting her with a large wooden chair until it broke into pieces.
According to police, on Thursday, July 4, 2024, at 11:49 PM, police in Iowa City responded to an assault incident near the downtown area. Police say a suspect, 45-year-old Lavail Anthony Drain, assaulted the mother of his children. ICPD officers responded to the scene and located the victim outside other residence in an excited state, a report states. The viclim reported that Drain had beaten her with a wooden chair, which was located nearby. The chair was broken into pieces. Witnesses on-scene reported seeing the victim and the defendant engaged in an argument inside her apartment immediately prior to the assault. Multiple witnesses reported seeing a male assaulting the victim. The victim required medical evaluation al the hospital. Police obtained surveillance video from the area of the incident and discovered that the assault was captured on video. The defendant can be seen on video punching the victim multiple times. The defendant then walks away from the victim and disengages. A short lime later, the defendant grabs a large wooden chair and begins beating the victim with it. The defendant hits the victim with such force that the chair broke apart into pieces.
Police pointed out in the report that Drain has, at least, three prior domestic abuse assault convictions.
Drain (pictured at top) was arrested and charged with felony domestic abuse assault and taken to jail.