CHARLES CITY — What began as a late-night call about a suspicious person in a Charles City neighborhood ended with a local man arrested and facing a felony accusation involving contraband at a detention facility.
Deandre Marcel Johnson (pictured at top), 39, of Charles City, encountered police Monday night, October 26, 2026, after officers were called to the 900 block of Spriggs Street at approximately 9:48 p.m.
According to the Charles City Police Department, officers responded to a report of a suspicious person, and the encounter led to Johnson’s arrest on allegations of public urination, interference with official acts and introducing contraband into a detention facility.
The last allegation turned what might otherwise have been a relatively minor encounter with police into a potentially serious criminal case.
Johnson is now accused of a Class D felony involving the introduction of intoxicants or drugs into an institution, according to a criminal complaint filed October 27 in Floyd County District Court.
Exactly what Johnson allegedly attempted to bring into the detention facility remains unclear. The available court information does not identify the suspected substance or explain how police discovered the alleged contraband.
But the felony accusation is serious business. Under Iowa law, a Class D felony can carry a prison sentence of up to five years upon conviction.
Johnson’s latest brush with the law comes with some baggage from an earlier run-in with Charles City police.
On June 23, 2024, officers were dispatched at approximately 10:02 p.m. to the 400 block of North Grand Avenue following a reported assault.
That encounter ended with Johnson, then 37, under arrest for simple misdemeanor assault.
The case didn’t simply disappear.
Floyd County court records show Johnson entered a negotiated guilty plea on August 7, 2024, to assault with intent to cause pain or injury.
Magistrate Ann M. Troge sentenced him to two days in jail, with credit for two days already served.
That case also involved a no-contact order, which was subsequently modified through additional court proceedings.
Now, just over two years after that assault arrest, Johnson is once again facing criminal proceedings in Floyd County.
Following his initial appearance on the new felony charge October 27, Magistrate Troge appointed a public defender to represent him.
Attorney Riley Kock filed an appearance and requested mandatory discovery on October 28.
Johnson was released on his own recognizance, allowing him to remain out of jail while the criminal case proceeds. Floyd County custody records confirm he is currently out of custody.
His next scheduled court date is November 16, 2026, at 11:45 a.m., when a preliminary hearing is set in Floyd County.
The felony prosecution is filed under case number FECR031169.
Police also reported arresting Johnson for public urination and interference with official acts, although those allegations are not listed as separate counts in the supplied felony docket.
For now, the late-night Spriggs Street encounter has left Johnson facing a much more consequential legal problem than a complaint about suspicious behavior.
The new charge remains an allegation, and Johnson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.