A homeless man was arrested at a West Des Moines motel Monday after he allegedly assaulted a motel employee.
Brian James Rollins, 38, of no fixed abode was charged with assault causing bodily injury or mental illness.
The incident began about 3 p.m. Monday in the 1600 block of Jordan Creek Parkway, where Rollins exited a motel room and “began to yell and swear at the victim,” who was an employee of the motel engaged in cleaning the carpeting.
The victim “attempted to apologize and leave” when Rollins “pulled the electrical plug out of the wall socket for the vacuum” and “struck the victim on the right side of his face, causing minor redness,” according to court records.
Rollins’ actions were caught on the motel’s surveillance video.
Officers of the West Des Moines Police Department made contact with Rollins, and he admitted to striking the victim, according to court records.
Rollins was held in the Dallas County Jail on a $1,000 cash or surety bond in advance of an initial appearance in Dallas County District Court.
Rollins was arrested in Urbandale in October 2024 on two counts of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon after allegedly ramming victims’ vehicles with his pickup truck. The cases are pending in Polk County District Court. He was convicted of disorderly conduct-fighting/violent behavior in June 2024 in Washington County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
