Large police presence on Highway 218 tied to reported mental health crisis

Lang
9/21/26

A large law enforcement presence on Highway 218 Saturday night was the result of a mental health crisis.

Iowa City Police, University Heights Police, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol all responded to the bridge over Melrose Avenue just before 9:15 for reports of a female who looked as if she might walk into traffic. After about a half-hour of negotiations with arriving officers, the woman agreed to be taken to University of Iowa Health Care for a mental health evaluation.

No other details have been released.