Iowa City police charged a local man with assault after he allegedly pushed a woman and tried to slash her son with a knife.

Russell James Barbary, 44, 1015 Cross Park Ave. Apt. D, was charged Oct. 22 with assault use/display of a dangerous weapon, possession of a controlled substance, and domestic-abuse assault.

According to reports, Barbary called police for assistance involving a fight with his girlfriend’s son.

Police later determined Barbary allegedly became intoxicated and went home, violating a no-contact order, and grabbed his girlfriend’s neck before pushing her into a wall.

The complaint said when the alleged victim’s son tried to intervene, Barbary came at him with a knife, leaving several abrasions and lacerations.

Upon a consent search of a bag on Barbary’s bicycle, police allegedly found synthetic marijuana.

— by Hayley Bruce