Police Say Iowa City Man Attacked Son

Steven Eldridge

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By Richard Pratt

Story Created: Sep 8, 2010 at 8:32 AM CST

Story Updated: Sep 8, 2010 at 9:24 AM CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Police arrested a man Tuesday night after he allegedly attacked his 9-year-old son.

According to police, Steven L. Eldridge, 48, of 1629 Hollywood Blvd. in Iowa City, granted his son permission to go outside to play around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. When his son approached the door to to exit the house, Eldridge allegedly stopped him and put the child in a choke hold.

Eldridge pinched the child’s nose and pulled on it, police said, before throwing his son to the ground. He then stepped one foot onto the child’s back, raised his hands in the air and shouted that he was the “man of the house.”

The child was still complaining of pain 90 minutes after the incident, police said.

Police found Eldridge about an hour later at 116 Highway 1 West in Iowa City. Eldridge was found to be intoxicated and after police conducted a search, a small glass jar containing marijuana was found in his coat pocket. Eldridge has a prior conviction for possession of a controlled substance in 2000.

Eldridge has been charged with child endangerment causing serious injury, a Class C felony, possession of a marijuana, and public intoxication. Eldridge also has five prior convictions for public intoxication since 1997.

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