MUSCATINE, IOWA – Police say this Iowa woman decided to paint swastikas and the message “We don’t want you here” on diverse businesses, which probably made a lot of Iowans happy but frightened others, and now she’s facing muchos charges.
The Muscatine Police Department says they have made an arrest following an investigation into vandalism that occurred over this past weekend. Behind bars is 30-year-old Alisa Rilla Nicols Staats. She was arrested at 11:20 AM on January 28, 2025, at 324 Roscoe Avenue.
Staats has been charged with the following crimes:
– 1 count – Criminal Mischief 2nd degree (D felony)
– 1 count – Criminal Mischief 4th degree as a hate crime (aggravated misdemeanor)
– 7 counts – Criminal Mischief 5th degree as a hate crime (serious misdemeanors)
– 2 counts – Criminal Mischief 5th degree (simple misdemeanor)
– 1 count – Harassment 1st degree (aggravated misdemeanor)
– 1 count – Ongoing criminal conduct (B felony)
– 1 count – Threat of terrorism (D felony)
Staats (pictured at top) was transferred to the Muscatine County Jail upon her arrest. She has been appointed a public defender and awaits a preliminary hearing on February 7.
Police say a total of 11 victims have been associated with these crimes. The Guadalajara and Jibaro restaurants, Pete’s Tap bar & Grill, Pearl City Tobacco & Liquor, the Merrill Hotel, Muscatine City Hall, Susan Clark Junior High School, Muscatine Community College and properties at 113 Iowa Ave and 208 W 2nd Street. Muscatine Police were notified of multiple acts of vandalism that are believed to have taken place throughout the day on Sunday, January 26, 2025. Most of the acts involved some sort of graffiti (reportedly swastikas and the message “We don’t want you here”) being spray painted on various buildings, one building had a window damaged, while one agency received what appeared to be racist emails.
“Although the type of graffiti may be alarming, there is not believed to be any ongoing threat to the general public,” police claim.