Porn Film Spurs Rescue Attempt With a Sword
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
OCONOMOWOC, Wis. — A man says he broke into an apartment with a cavalry sword because he thought he heard a woman being raped, but the sound actually was from a pornographic movie his upstairs neighbor was watching.
“Now I feel stupid,” said James Van Iveren, who has been charged in the case. “This really is nothing, nothing but a mistake.”
According to a criminal complaint, the neighbor told police that Mr. Van Iveren pounded on the door and kicked it open without warning February 12, damaging the frame and lock.
“Where is she?” Mr. Van Iveren demanded, thrusting the sword at the neighbor, the complaint said. “Where is she?”
The neighbor told police Mr. Van Iveren became increasingly aggressive as he repeated the question, insisting that he had heard a woman being raped. The complaint said that, with the sword pointed at him, the neighbor led Mr. Van Iveren throughout the apartment, opening closet doors to prove he was alone.
The neighbor later played for police the part of the DVD he believed Mr. Van Iveren heard downstairs.
