Sioux City Man Charged After Portage Crash, OWI Investigation, and Hospital Altercation
Michael Neal, 34, of Sioux City, Iowa, is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after Portage police say he fled a crash, was tracked through nearby woods to a bar, and later threatened officers and became combative during a hospital blood draw.
Officers were called to a crash around 8:25 p.m. on December 9, 2025, at Central Avenue and Brown Street. A black Infiniti was involved, and witnesses reported the driver ran from the scene without stopping to provide required information or assistance. The crash victim later reported a complaint of head pain.
Police followed a single set of footprints north from the roadway through brush and thorns, reaching the area of Dombey and Evergreen before proceeding to a nearby bar. Inside, officers located a man matching the description given by the initial caller. According to court documents, Neal’s clothing was wet and he was covered in thorns and debris, consistent with the wooded route officers had just tracked. A resident also provided video showing Neal running through a backyard near the crash scene.
While speaking with officers in the bar, Neal allegedly gave a false timeline of his whereabouts. The affidavit states he told officers that he had been at the bar for approximately 2 hours when the bartender had just told us he came in approximately 25 minutes ago and never ordered anything.
Officers obtained a blood-draw warrant and transported Neal to Northwest Health – Portage. While at the hospital, the affidavit states that Neal repeatedly threatened officers by stating multiple times while officers were in the hospital, that he will kill officers and fight us.
According to court documents, Neal became physically combative during the blood draw. Officers reported that Neal “buried his head toward his groin,” coming down with his mouth wide open before “Michael’s teeth struck the top of my left hand before I pushed his head away as I realized he was attempting to bite me.” Officers further stated that “Michael buried his arms toward his chest as well as buried his head toward his groin,” requiring them to forcibly remove his arm from his jacket and hold it extended so the phlebotomist could complete the draw.
Charges filed December 10,2025:
• Battery by Bodily Waste; Victim Is Public Safety Officer — Level 6 Felony
• Intimidation: Committed Because of the Occupation — Level 6 Felony
• Resisting Law Enforcement — Class A Misdemeanor
• Operating While Intoxicated Endangering a Person — Class A Misdemeanor
• Operating While Intoxicated — Class C Misdemeanor
• Leaving the Scene of an Accident (Failure to Provide Reasonable Assistance) — Class B Misdemeanor
• False Informing — Class B Misdemeanor
