JEFFERSON, Iowa — A Perry man was arrested here Tuesday afternoon after allegedly fighting to see his wife.
Matthew John Goff, 46, of 515 Grove St., Perry, was charged with assault causing bodily injury, public intoxication, disorderly conduct-fighting or violent behavior and trespassing.
The incident started in the 200 block of N. Locust Street about 4 p.m. Tuesday, when a caller reported that Goff was “drunk and starting fights” with several parties, according to court records.
Officers of the Jefferson Police Department responded and found Goff “yelling and cursing in the face of” a local resident. The officers “told Goff to back away, and he did so,” according to court records.
The officers spoke with the parties to the dispute, who said Goff, appearing “angry and intoxicated,” came to the residence at 205 N. Locust St. in search of his wife. The occupant of the residence said he told Goff that Goff’s wife was not at the residence and then asked Goff to leave.
Goff refused to leave the residence and allegedly “began punching” the victim “with closed fists,” according to court records.
During the course of the alleged assault, the victim “attempted to pull a fixed-blade knife from a sheath on his belt to defend himself” and in doing so “caused a deep cut on the palm of his right approximately two inches long.”
The officers also observed “heavy bruising” around the victim’s left eye, which the victim said “was caused from being punched repeatedly in the face,” according to court records.
The victim was transported to the Greene County Medical Center emergency room for treatment of his injuries.
The officers made contact with Goff, who confirmed that he came to the N. Locust Street residence looking for his wife. Goff said “he was just released from jail that day for a domestic abuse assault involving his wife, and he wanted to talk to her.”
The officers observed “many signs of heavy intoxication” in Goff, who confirmed that he had been drinking, according to court records. He alleged that the victim “hit him first, and he fought back.”
When placed under arrest, Goff “became very angry and was shouting at the others involved, calling them profanities,” according to court records. In his coat officers found one bottle of vodka and one bottle of whiskey.
Goff was transported to the Greene County Jail, where he is held in advance of an initial appearance in Greene County District Court.
Goff was convicted of disorderly conduct-fighting or violent behavior in 2004 and again in 2009 in Dallas County District Court. He was convicted of first-offense public intoxication in 2006 in Dallas County District Court and second-offense public intoxication in 2010 in Dallas County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
“Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.”