Upper Iowa football player allegedly assaults Iowa City police

Zach Berg | Press Citizen

An Urbandale man who played for Upper Iowa University's football team allegedly assaulted Iowa City police while using a "football move" early Sunday morning.

Turner Joseph Ellis, 19, of Urbandale was arrested and charged with assault on persons in certain occupations, bodily injury, an aggravated misdemeanor; after he allegedly pushed an Iowa City police officer to the ground and causing a knee injury.

The incident took place at about 1:19 a.m. Sunday in the block of 10 S. Dubuque St. and is reported as a separate incident to the strong-arm robbery that took place at a similar time and place in downtown Iowa City.

Police found Ellis standing over a male that was knocked out and on the ground. When police made contact with Ellis, he started to run away. Police chased him and finally caught him.

When the police tried to take Ellis into custody, he then allegedly pushed an officer to the ground, injuring the officer's knee and tearing the officer's pants. According to the police complaint, Ellis refereed to the push as a "football move."

Police found Ellis to be intoxicated. After his arrest, he was found to have a .142 blood alcohol level.

Ellis was booked at the Johnson County Jail at about 2:09 a.m. Sunday with the assault charge along with public intoxication and interference with official acts, both simple misdemeanors.

Ellis is listed on the football roster for the 2018 Upper Iowa Peacocks as a redshirt freshman linebacker.

Reach Zach Berg at 319-887-5412, zberg@press-citizen.com or follow him on Twitter at @ZacharyBerg.