MUSCATINE, Iowa – A Muscatine man has been charged with multiple offenses following a disturbance that occurred Saturday, June 14, near the site of a public demonstration.
!["Payne,]("https://muscatineiowa.gov/ImageRepository/Document?documentId=31482")
Austin Gauge Payne, 22, of 115 W. 5th Street, Muscatine, was taken into custody by officers with the Muscatine Police Department at approximately 2:29 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, at the Muscatine County Jail. He faces charges of Disorderly Conduct, Reckless Driving, Criminal Mischief, and several other traffic-related violations. All charges are classified as simple misdemeanors.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred around 12:51 p.m. on June 14, when Muscatine police responded to a report of a disturbance at the intersection of Park Avenue and Jackson Street. Witnesses reported a truck, later identified as belonging to Payne, engaging in reckless behavior by performing a burnout and directing large clouds of exhaust smoke toward participants at a nearby public demonstration.
In addition to the new charges, Payne remains in custody on an active arrest warrant for violating the conditions of his pretrial release. That warrant is connected to previous charges filed in May, including Burglary in the First Degree, Harassment in the First Degree, and Assault Causing Bodily Injury.
As with all criminal cases, the charges are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
See Muscatine Police Department Release (PDF).