Washington man charged after crowbar attack on National Guardsman in Mt. Pleasant

MT. PLEASANT — A Washington man faces assault charges after Mt. Pleasant Police Department received reports that he swung a crowbar at an Iowa National Guardsman at Pizza Hut.

“Over at the [Pizza Hut] there in Mt. Pleasant, a guy attacked one of the National Guards with a crowbar wearing a white tank top, believe he is in his car,” a dispatcher was heard saying over the scanner at approximately 11:45 a.m. on Sept. 13.

According to a criminal complaint, officers responded to reports that Nathan Michael Tripp, 35, confronted Guardsman Wyatt Carlston with a crowbar and accused him of “talking about him.” Police said Tripp swung the crowbar at Carlston.

Thanks to Carlston backing away during the confrontation, the crowbar only struck a stack of pizzas the Guardsman carried, court records state.

The incident did not escalate further, according to the police report, because Carlston convinced Tripp to wait in his car until authorities arrived.

The officer responding to the scene noted two other guardsmen were with Carlston and witnessed the event unfold.

“When speaking to the defendant, he admitted to the altercation,” the criminal complaint filed by Keith Dugger states.

Authorities charged Tripp with assault. He was taken into custody and jailed, according to court records.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com