MASON CITY – A convicted drug criminal who was irate about a published report of him being accused of meth crimes boldly threatened today to blow up NIT headquarters and kill everyone inside – and was cited and released by police (not even taken to jail).
The incident took place Tuesday afternoon at about 1 PM, when 28-year-old Andrew Dean Williams arrived at NIT headquarters and pounded on the front door. NIT Publisher Matt Marquardt, working inside, answered the door and Williams took a fighting stance and screamed that a story on NIT about Williams being caught with meth was “all wrong”.
“You got my age and town wrong!” Williams yelled after he gave his entire first, middle and last name. “You better take that story down, or I will blow up this building. I will kill you!”
It turns out, Williams was irate over an NIT report from back in September of 2015, when Williams was caught by a Cerro Gordo deputy with meth as he drove through town. He later pled guilty and was sent to jail for two days and ordered to pay $660.25 in fines and court fees. He never paid in full, and his wages were garnished. He possibly read that today before embarking on his ill-advised invasion, and neglected to notice the story was from 2 years ago.
After Marquardt suggested Williams hire a lawyer, Williams started to leave, but instead attacked new plants that were installed the day before in the ground in front of NIT headquarters, pulling them up and throwing stems and leaves all about the property.
“Then,” Marquardt said, “like a crazed, meth-fueled monkey, he mounted the new railings on my staircase and tried to destroy them by bending them back and forth. I advised him to beat it, real quick.”
Williams then started to walk west on 6th Street SW as Marquardt went for his phone, bicycle and camera; Williams made it to Jefferson Avenue and proceeded south. Police were called and briefed on the encounter, but Williams vanished for the moment.
Then, just a few minutes later, police arrived at NIT headquarters and announced they had caught Williams by Mercy Hospital. They brought him back and Marquardt ID’d him. Williams was CORRECTION: CITED AND RELEASED (not jailed) on harassment and mischief charges, police said.
Currently, Williams – who apparently now lives in Mason City – is facing methamphetamine possession charges brought by the Iowa Falls police department; he goes to trial October 5, 2017. He is also facing charges of eluding and interference from Mason City police from back on July 1, when law enforcement caught him at Lime Creek Nature Center that morning. In August, he was guilty of criminal mischief in Franklin county and fined.
(Previous mug shot)
