Iowan accused of attacking officer with toy monkey

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines man is in jail after authorities say he attacked a police officer with a stuffed monkey that he stole from a convenience store.

Preston Phipps was arrested late Saturday. A police officer says in a report that he saw a man carrying two stuffed animals leaving the store.

The officer was flagged down and told the man had left a mess in the store.

When the officer tried to arrest Phipps, he allegedly hit the officer in the face with a monkey.

Phipps is in the Polk County jail on several charges, including theft and assault on a police officer. His case isn’t on the online court system and it’s not known if he has attorney.