Police have arrested an Iowa man who has been accused of punching an elderly pro-life protestor who was standing up against abortion.
According to an Iowa City police complaint, 30-year-old Man Chun John Ma allegedly punched a 78-year-old female in the back while she was holding an anti-abortion sign on the corner of Highway 1 and Riverside Drive at about 9:20 a.m. Wednesday.
Police say the woman’s husband confronted Ma and stood with him until officers arrived on the scene.
After being read his Miranda rights, Ma told officers he found anti-abortion strange and admitted that he knew his actions were wrong and should not have struck the woman, according to police.
Ma has been charged with a serious misdemeanor count of assault causing bodily injury.
Another local report has more details:
The man allegedly admitted to the crime and acknowledged that he had it been wrong to punch the woman. Although he also reportedly told the arresting officer that he thought being against abortion was “strange.”
According to a police report, the woman was protesting along with her husband at the intersection when at 9:09 a.m. she was approached from behind and punched, causing her pain right shoulder and arm. The woman’s husband confronted the man, later identified as Man Juhn John Ma, 30, of Iowa City, and stood with him until officers arrived.
As the officer arrived, Ma, unprompted by the officer, admitted he had punched the woman and that it was wrong, according to the complaint. When advised of his Miranda rights, Ma told the officer that he understood but that he found the idea of being anti-abortion “strange.”
Ma was charged with assault causing bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor. He was charged and released from the Johnson County Jail on Wednesday evening.
