Man Suspected of Trying to Choke Cab Driver with Seat Belt

By Vanessa Miller, Reporter

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By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: Feb 2, 2012 at 4:14 PM CDT

Story Updated: Feb 2, 2012 at 6:09 PM CDT

CORALVILLE, Iowa - A 24-year-old Coralville man was arrested early this morning on suspicion of attempting to strangle a cab driver by first choking him with his hands and then wrapping a seat belt around his neck, according to a criminal compliant.

Stephen Freyermuth faces a charge of assault with intent to inflict serious injury after a taxi driver said Freyermuth threatened to kill him during a ride from downtown Iowa City to Boston Way in Coralville at about 1 a.m.

The driver said that en route, Freyermuth tried to choke him with his hands and the seat belt before saying, “I’m going to kill you,” according to the complaint.

Freyermuth is accused of running from the cab, but officers found him a few minutes later in the same area. The driver positively identified him, according to police.

He is being held at the Johnson County Jail on a $7,500 cash-only bond.