Cops: Iowa Man Strangled Mom With U.S. Flag

OCTOBER 23--In the most American of crimes, a 39-year-old Iowa man tried to strangle his mother with a U.S. flag, according to court records.

Police allege that Adam Sotzen was intoxicated early Monday morning when he appeared at the victim’s residence in North Liberty, an Iowa City suburb.

The 6’ 3”, 230-pound Sotzen yelled at his mother and destroyed property inside the home before shoving the woman to the ground, cops charge.

After the woman retreated to a chair in the living room, Sotzen--carrying a 3’ x 5’ flag that he had “stolen from a nearby residence”--approached his mother from behind.

Sotzen, who was “twirling” the flag into a rope, stated, “Die whore” and “You need to die whore” and “placed the American flag around her neck and began applying pressure, strangling her.” After the woman toppled from the chair, Sotzen allegedly continued to strangle her while she was face down on the floor.

The victim told police she knew her son was “capable of killing her,” and that he was “using a lot of force while he was strangling her with the American flag.”

When the woman’s boyfriend sought to intervene, Sotzen assaulted the man, who “received a fat lip and was punched in the rib cage.”

Pictured above, Sotzen was charged with several crimes, including assault with intent to inflict serious injury and harassment, both of which are classified as aggravated misdemeanors. He is locked up in the Johnson County jail in lieu of $30,000 bond.

Sotzen’s extensive criminal history includes convictions for domestic abuse; assault with a dangerous weapon; public intoxication; disorderly conduct; drunk driving; assaulting a peace officer; possession of drug paraphernalia; and violating probation. (2 pages)