Three arrested after fight over construction business (Iowa City Press Citizen)

Three arrested after fight over construction business
12:00 AM, Jun. 24, 2011
Written by Lee Hermiston

Police arrested a group of men Thursday who allegedly had been intimidating another group of men in an attempt to take over their construction business.

Iowa City police responded to a report of fighting and weapons being displayed at the Hilltop Mobile Home Park at 12:38 a.m. Thursday. Officers determined that three men -- Juan Manuel Vasquez-Ayala, 19, of 831 Crosspark Ave.; Hugo Estuardo Salguero, 26, of 2401 Highway 6 E.; and Juan Manuel Martinez-Lopez, 24, of 1425 Langenberg Ave. -- approached the victims and witnesses at their residence and began throwing unopened cans of beer at them.

Lt. Bill Campbell said there were no other weapons used or displayed in the scrum.

Police said a large fight ensued once the victims and other witnesses attempted to defend themselves.

The victims said the three men have been intimidating them for a few months in an attempt to take over construction business. The two groups work for competing construction companies.

The three men have been charged with assault while displaying a dangerous weapon -- joint criminal conduct, an aggravated misdemeanor. Martinez-Lopez faces an additional charge of public intoxication.

Martinez-Lopez posted a cash bond Thursday morning and was released on custody. Salguero and Vasquez-Ayala have been held for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.