The Muscatine Police Department (MPD) has arrested a person for the acts of vandalism last weekend that included spraypainting swastikas on Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant and Jibaro, a restaurant specializing in authentic Puerto Rican cuisine. In addition to swastikas, Jibaro was also defaced with the spraypainted message, “We don’t want you here.”
In its statement on Monday, MPD also said “one agency received what appeared to be racist emails.”
Alisa Staats, a 30-year-old Muscatine resident, was arrested and charged with three felonies and 12 misdemeanors in connection to the Sunday vandalism. Seven of the serious misdemeanors and one of aggravated misdemeanors she is charged with are classified as hate crimes.
MPD released the following summary of the charges.
- 1 count – Criminal Mischief 2nd degree (D felony)
- 1 count – Criminal Mischief 4th degree as a hate crime (aggravated misdemeanor)
- 7 counts – Criminal Mischief 5th degree as a hate crime (serious misdemeanors)
- 2 counts – Criminal Mischief 5th degree (simple misdemeanor)
- 1 count – Harassment 1st degree (aggravated misdemeanor)
- 1 count – Ongoing criminal conduct (B felony)
- 1 count – Threat of terrorism (D felony)
In addition to Guadajara and Jibaro, “Pete’s Tap bar & Grill, Pearl City Tobacco & Liquor, the Merrill Hotel, Muscatine City Hall, Susan Clark Junior High School, Muscatine Community College and properties at 113 Iowa Ave & 208 W 2nd St” were damaged in the same vandalism spree, according to MPD.
