A Hills man was arrested after allegedly repeatedly smashing into a person’s car Wednesday evening, according to Iowa City police.

Robert Connolly, 49, was charged with first-degree criminal mischief, a Class C felony; willful injury, a Class D felony; assault on a peace officer, a serious misdemeanor; and reckless driving, a simple misdemeanor. He also faces an OWI charge, said Iowa City police Sgt. Troy Kelsay.

He was being held at the Johnson County Jail Thursday on $27,500 cash-only bond.

Police are also looking into whether this incident was a hate crime, Kelsay said. Connolly allegedly made ethnically motivated slurs, he said.

The victim was injured in the attack and taken to a hospital with minor injuries. The car had at least $10,000 in damage.

The incident began around 6:20 p.m. when the victim and his friends noticed that Connolly was too intoxicated to drive and parked his Jeep for him near 851 Highway 6, Kelsay said. Connolly became angry and started yelling at the group as they walked away, he said.

Connolly allegedly followed the victim and friends in his car after the verbal spat and then rear-ended the vehicle at a high rate of speed. He backed up and struck the car two more times, according to police.

When he was being arrested, he allegedly hit an officer and spit blood at several officers.

Class C felonies are generally punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a 10,000 fine, while class D felonies are punishable by up to five years in prison and as much as a $7,500 fine. Serious misdemeanors are punishable by up to a year in jail and up to $1,500.

— by Danny Valentine