Drunk driver points gun at subject, gets in car wreck

An Iowa City man was arrested Monday for allegedly pointing a gun at a person in the parking lot of an east side strip mall, then driving away and getting into a accident with another car.

About 6:50 p.m., according to Iowa City Police Department complaints, Bertran E. Perez, 33, of Iowa City, was driving through the parking lot of the strip mall at 1705 S. First Ave. when he started to yell at another subject about “his driving habit in the parking lot.” When the subject yelled back, Perez pointed a handgun at the subject, cursed at the man and drove off, according to the complaints.

Moments later, Perez was involved in a car crash in the 2400 block of Miami Drive and left the scene on foot, according to complaints. Police found him at the intersection of Miami and Lakeside drives having trouble standing and smelling of alcohol with bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, according to complaints. Perez refused a blood alcohol test, the complaint said.

Perez was arrested on charges of drunken driving, a serious misdemeanor; first-degree harassment, assault while displaying a dangerous weapon and carrying weapons, all aggravated misdemeanors. Perez was in Johnson County Jail Tuesday morning and awaiting a bond hearing.