An Iowa City man was charged with assault after he allegedly was involved in a fight outside a downtown convenience store.

Joseph Upchurch, 19, 710 Westgate Drive, was charged Wednesday with assault causing injury and tampering with records.

According to a complaint from Iowa City police, officers responded to a reported fight at L&M Mighty Shop on Burlington Ave., where they found Upchurch.

The complaint said staff at the store identified Upchurch as having started the fight.

When asked for identification, Upchurch allegedly offered police a Missouri identification card and stating his name was Martinez Smith, the report said.

Some items in the store were damaged during the altercation, including the watch of the alleged victim.

The alleged victim also had a cut at the bottom of his eye, the report said.

Tampering with records is an aggravated misdemeanor, punishable by up to two years in prison and a maximum fine of $6,250. Assault causing injury is a serious misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a maximum fine of $1,875.

— by Conrad Swanson