MASON CITY — A homeless Mason City man accused of being involved in a robbery and then resisting arrest has pleaded not guilty.
A criminal complaint says 28-year-old BJ Sahle talked with another person in Central Park in the late afternoon hours of May 7th before walking away, but then he came back, said something to the person, and then punched them in the face.
Shortly before 11 o’clock that night, Sahle is accused of attempting to commit robbery against a different person. Sahle allegedly punched the victim in the face causing injuries, as well as took a flashlight and attempted to take the victim’s dog. When officers attempted to arrest him, Sahle is accused of trying to grab an officer’s gun, was actively resisting arrest, fought with an officer while being handcuffed, and stomped on an officer’s foot while in handcuffs. An officer did suffer injuries to a hand, elbow and knee.
Sahle has been charged with: first-degree robbery, a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison; disarming a peace officer, a Class D felony; as well as the serious misdemeanors of assault on persons in certain occupations, interference with official acts causing bodily injury, and assault causing bodily injury.
Sahle was due in court today for his arraignment hearing but his attorney filed a written plea of not guilty last week in Cerro Gordo County District Court. His trial is scheduled to start on August 26th.
