Man facing multiple assault charges

A man arrested in Henry County Sunday is facing multiple assault charges.

Around 2 p.m., Sunday, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received report of a vehicle traveling westbound on Highway 78 from Winfield with a possibly intoxicated driver.

Samantha Schaapveld, 27, operator of a 2005 Lincoln Towncar, was being assaulted by David Mertens, 42, while driving, according to sheriff’s report.

Henry County residents stopped to assist the female and were assaulted by Mertens in the process.

Mertens drove the vehicle from the scene, followed by another Henry County resident, and was stopped by Iowa State Patrol and arrested by Henry County sheriff’s deputies.

Mertens is charged with assault causing injury, a serious misdemeanor; assault with no injury, a simple misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, a simple misdemeanor.

While in custody at the Henry County Jail, Mertens assaulted a jailer by spitting on him while being moved to another cell, according to the sheriff’s report.

Mertens was further charged with assault of a person in certain occupations — jailer, with no injury, a serious misdemeanor.

Schaapveld was later found and arrested by the Winfield Police Department on multiple charges.