Matthew Downing, 45, of Decorah, Iowa, was arrested on February 27, 2025, after police issued a warrant following a disturbance at his residence on North Street. Downing is facing charges of domestic abuse assault and false imprisonment.
Details from the Criminal Complaint
The incident unfolded on the morning of February 21, 2025, when officers responded to a disturbance at Downing’s residence. At approximately 10:50 a.m., Downing and a female party had a dispute after Downing asked for a key to a shared vehicle. The situation escalated when Downing allegedly blocked the door to prevent the woman from leaving.
At 11:12 a.m., Downing contacted police, stating that he did not need the key but wanted to hold onto it for future use. He claimed the other party “overreacted” to his request and he only tried to keep her from leaving by blocking the door. He asserted he did not physically touch her.
However, the victim provided a different account during an interview with police at 11:53 a.m. She confirmed that Downing physically blocked the door multiple times to stop her from leaving the house. After eventually escaping to her vehicle, the victim claimed Downing climbed onto the trunk of her car to prevent her from backing out of the driveway. He allegedly slapped the trunk before moving out of the way.
Both Downing and the victim’s statements were captured on body cameras worn by the responding officers.
Legal Proceedings and Custody
Matthew Downing is currently held in the Winneshiek County Jail. His case is under further investigation, and he faces a legal process for the charges of domestic abuse assault and false imprisonment.
