Last update: 5:24 p.m. Friday with comments from ISU PD Chief of Police Michael Newton.
A 25-year-old from Des Moines is facing 15 felony criminal mischief charges following damage done to Iowa State Patrol and Story Country Sheriff’s Office vehicles on Saturday during the Cy-Hawk football game.
Security camera timestamps posted to the Iowa State Police Department X, formerly known as Twitter, account show an individual in a tailgate lot outside of Jack Trice stadium at 2:35 p.m., five minutes after the start of the Cy-Hawk football game.
As a result of tips received from the post, Giada Morresi of Des Moines was identified by the Iowa State University Police Department as the individual who allegedly damaged 15 vehicles belonging to the Iowa State Patrol and Story County Sheriff’s Office, resulting in tens of thousands of dollars in damage. The damage to the 15 marked vehicles did not leave any of them unusable, according to ISU PD.
Eight of the 15 counts are 1st Degree criminal mischief, which is a Class C felony, each count causing more than $10,000 in damage.
The remaining seven counts are 2nd Degree Class D felonies, which caused between $1,500 and $10,000 in damage for each count.
Iowa State University Police Chief of Police Michael Newton described the damages to the marked patrol cars as “deep gouges,” and in some cases, the gouges “went past the paint into the metal of the vehicle.”
The individual came back “a couple different times” and damaged the cars, according to Newton.
“All of the vehicles will have to be re-logoed or painted or parts replaced, but still operational which was at least good so the officers could do their duty after the game,” Newton said.
Although the alleged crime took place on University property, no damages were reported on ISU PD vehicles.
“Most of our vehicles were in another location, so she happened to target the marked police vehicles that were parked in that area,” Newton said.
Following the game the Iowa State University Police Department posted a photo and video on X asking for information about an “incident,” which occurred Saturday.
Hey Cyclones! We would like to speak with an individual who may have information about an incident that occurred Saturday, Sept. 9th. If you know the person below, please let us know!
24/7 dispatch: 515-294-4428
Email: dpsinfo@iastate.edu
Iowa State Safe app: Report a Tip pic.twitter.com/dedUTk5NLT
— Iowa State University Police Department (@ISUPD) September 12, 2023
Newton said he wants to thank the public, “Without the public we wouldn’t have been able to find the individual involved.”
The photo and video to X provided the department with the name of Morresi, according to Newton.
“It was from everybody out in the community looking at our social media, a number of people were able to identify the individual and give us a name and information on the person,” Newton said.
Newton said the department does have video evidence in the case.