IOWA CITY — Two men face robbery and riot charges for their role in an incident alleged to have occurred earlier this month.

According to Iowa City police criminal complaints, around 10:53 p.m. Nov. 6, officers responded to 511 S. Gilbert St. for an assault in progress. When police arrived, they learned that two people had been assaulted and two others had been robbed by a group of seven or more men.

The victims told officers that the men tried to grab one of their purses before punching her in the stomach, police said. Another victim reported being held down by several subjects while others went through his pockets. The suspects took a phone from one victim, police said.

Police have arrested Ali A. Ali, 20, of Iowa City; and Arthur L. Kirskey, Jr., 20, of Coralville in connection with the crime. Both men face two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of riot. Each charge is an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison.

Ali, Kirksey and two other men, Kiwon D. Clay, 21, of Iowa City; and Leroy H. Dix, 18, of Coralville, were initially arrested on four counts each of simple assault in connection with the incident. The victims reported that the men punched and kicked them, sending one victim to the hospital. The men fled the scene before officers arrived, but were found in an apartment building, police said.

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