Editorial by Matt Marquardt –
Many people seemed to notice that local law enforcement was out flexing its muscle Friday night and Saturday morning on Mason City’s north side.
“They have the north end saturated,” one caller said. “They are pulling over everybody. 3 miles per hour over and you are pulled over. No license plate lights. People walking in groups and on bikes were being questioned.”
“What in the world is the deal with all the police out tonight?” someone posted in the Whiner’s Den.
As news tips trickled in NIT decided to go out and have a look around.
There was definitely a lot going on once you got to North Federal after about 7th or 8th street.
Police were using Casey’s north as some kind of meeting area it appeared. There were officers in vehicles parked or driving around the area for hours. Police did not seem to be bothering anyone needlessly, at least from what I saw.
There were people out and about walking and biking throughout the area, standing on doorsteps, decks, and parking lots, just watching. There were a few small bonfires in yards. People stood outside bars and smoked cigarettes. North Side Liquor was buzzing. A group of young men in a pickup truck tore into the parking lot and leaped out of the rear end, laughing and hollering. At the 1600 block of North Washington, about a dozen dirty diapers had been tossed and scattered in the street (see picture). In East Park, at least 5 people were in the park at midnight. Several were in a shelter house hanging out. The park had closed hours ago. See the video below to see about 4 minutes of the action.
It appeared that a coordinated effort between the Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs, Mason City Police Department and Iowa State Patrol were attempting to keep the peace this evening. As of 1:30 a.m., it didn’t appear that any major disturbances had taken place. Much attention seemed to again focus on the Alley Katz Bar, were disturbances and arrests have been common lately.
Watch video:
i was told in an earlier post about sheriffs driving their cars home each night which saves them a ton on personal gas expenses,that MC Police only have four cars operating at any given time..ummm
One covers the city the other the county.
To the moron who think that I’m full of crap, and shouldn’t live in my hometown well mister know it all I really do think you live in a fantasy world! I said repeatedly that North Federal is what I’m talking about… and the north end is apart of Mason City. Seems to the educated people such as myself that he is trying to provoke a fight on the internet…real mature aren’t you! I live in Forest City for your information, however I was raised on the north end, went to school there too. I moved out when my car was broken into after a week of living on 2nd Street NE… Sour attitude? More like I’m a realist. I’m done listing to people who are clueless, defending their precious part of Mason City, when we all know that the north end is the worst in town. Wake up, smell the roses. It’s time to get out from under the rock you’ve been living under. Last comment you’ll see from me on this post…I’m done….so go ahead dumbass Black Larry, go live in your fantasy world…because in actuality your the one who is full of crap.
Honestly thanks mcpd for showing that u wont tollerate anything.. just quit trying to break us down with cash… my god its like ur poor broke or something and need cash… is anything legal now?
Why not report on the real owners of the Alley Katz Bar and why are the taxes less than 900 dollars on that building? Is this the same lady that had the big flower place in Nora Springs? Remmember what happend there.
My family lives in the South end of town, South of the YMCA. We don’t leave our vehicles out at night, we keep a careful watch over our children while they are playing outside, and we don’t leave anything valuable in the yard. We have had (and still have) numerous drug houses in our neighborhood. There have been cars stolen within blocks of us. The neighbors have had gasoline stolen from their vehicles. Garage security lights have been shot out by bb guns. At one time, our house was randomly paint-balled and a window was broken out. We have a lot of pretty strange, new to the neighborhood folks roaming our streets, day and night.
People are so quick to say the North End is so terrible. Have you looked at the South End? Its no better. Sure, our neighborhood is quiet in the day time, people do maintain their properties in this area (unlike near N. Federal), people walk, let their kids play outdoors, and are (most of the time) cordial to their neighbors.
What you’re not seeing is the vandalism, garage breakins, stolen items, assaults, drug transactions, etc that DO happen out here.
Why do we stay? Its simple. No area is better than any other!
Kudos to the police for making the impression that they are doing their job in the North End at night. I wish they would step it up in this area. We’d love to have the druggies busted and out of the neighborhood, to know our belongings are safe in our yard, and know our children can be free to play like we did when we were little.
People, quit bashing one area of the town when you havent even taken the time to look at other areas.
(NORTH ENDER– Thanks for those numbers, that may help the close minded folks see a little clearer!)
That.Is.Just.Scary. I feel sorry for you, and MC. How to clean it up?
My family and I live on the north end of Mason City. I have to give my opinion on this subject. I understand that there have been some problems around this neighborhood. However, we have the nicest neighbors in every direction. We have never had any crime committed against us. My children (ages 7 and 9) play freely outside and have never had anyone bother them. Maybe it is just our street. The funny thing is, I grew up over in the “nicer” area of Mason City, on Brook Terrace by Cheslea Creek. And we had nothing but trouble. Horrible, crazy neighbors, cars stolen, strangers approaching kids, and no sense of community. I adore the people on my street, and am proud and happy to say that I own a home on the north end of Mason City. Way to go 9th St N.W.!!
I lived on the North end also. On my block were two KNOWN drug houses. Two KNOWN sexual predators listers. I have had items stolen from my front yard on three occasions which were broke in the street out front. I have had one break in. I have watched a older teen pull down his pants and pee in broad daylight. I know of one FEDex driver whom was shot at while in his truck on 12th NE, shot coming from the north. TO WHOMEVER THINK THIS AREA IS SWEET AND KIND…LIVE THERE ONCE.
I am so tired of the North end getting a bad reputation. I live on the North end because I chose to live here. I have a college education, am not on welfare, full-time professional job and am do not have a criminal record. Here are the facts of crime data in Mason City over the last month courtesy of https://www.crimereports.com. In the last 30 days Mason City has had… 14 Breaking and Entering offenses, 7 have been on North end (N of Hwy 122) where 5 of the 7 have been downtown on the loop the other 7 on South End. 0 Homicides. 4 vehicle thefts (1 North End/3 South), 2 sexual assaults (1 North/1 South), 18 assaults (4 North end), and 14 drug related charges (4 North End). Yes, we do have quite a few bars on this end(not our choice), and North Federal still looks horrible after several renovations, but all in all the people are good with a few bad seeds mixed in. So, Southeast side, please stop believing your the “upper crust” because your side of town is no safer, less corrupt, or drug-free than mine.
Why would anyone go to the Northend to commit crimes? If I wanted to steal an 87 Cutlass I would just go buy one for $500. Much easier to go to a nice neighborhood and steal a nice car/stereo/tv, and bring it back to my crack shack on the Northend.
FROM SOMEONE WHO’S BEEN IN THE WORLD FROM THE GUTTER!!! For 26 yrs I’ve crissed cross this country (hitched hicking) about 17 times, lived on Hollywood blvd. Cali. ,SKID Row L.A. , tent city in Arizona,Naw Leans, and whats going on the North side won’t last this town ( the people ) won’t tolerate it. The police ar actually doing right. What I AM SAYING MASONCITY is a perfectly safe town, if you doubt me GET UP OFF YOUR ASS AND HIT THE ROAD AND SEE WHAT YOU FIND ! I PROMISE YOU’LL BE GRATEFUL TO RETURN. Hobo JOHN
OmG ! Last week they got a guy for flicking his cigarette in the street , last-night they were able to catch a Jay-walker ! I feel much safer now ! Last time I looked , it wasn’t a crime to be walking down the street { on the sidewalk } . Unless , you are breaking a law they don’t have any right to stop you ! They are just trying to shut the bars down ! Well, guess what ? they pay taxes ! Do you want more empty buildings in town ? maybe they should bust mayor drunk-mire
I’ve lived near Honolulu, and felt safer there than I do in Mason City. I visited San Francisco for a week and felt comfortable there too, but there is an evilness about Mason City that keeps me from wanting to move there, especially the north end. If it were up to me, I’d never move back to Mason City, mainly because of the high crime rate and ridiculous cost of living. If I ever did move back, it would be because my family still lives there, and my dad is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, and my fiancee got transferred from her job. I’ve gotten used to not having to lock my door to my house and car in the town I currently live in. After moving to Mason City for ONE WEEK in December of 2005, my car was broken into and my remote CD changer was stolen….I’m happy you all feel safe in your beloved town of Mason City, where you can commit crimes and get away with them….good luck when the new neighbors move next door and your stuff is missing, or they killed you and yours.
I AGREE LARRY.
I want everyone to know that Red Larry is not me. He is certainly entitled to his opinion which I may or may not agree with. This time I only partially agree with him. I happen to live in (the crime ridden) north end and that is B.S. We have some great people that live up here and they are fine neighbors. What happens on Federal Ave. is in another country. In fact I would say that the central city area is much worse than the north end and the south end is a close 2nd. Look at where all the thefts and drug arrest are happening before making stupid statements.
You got that right, “Black Larry”… you are not me not by a long shot. Thank goodness for that, because I call it like I see it. Which is to say I don’t have my head buried in the sand. Mason City’s north end is the worst in the whole town. I guess the news about the guy who got shot in the North Federal Casey’s parking lot last summer didn’t make it to your part of town. Is it possible that the news of someone discharging firearms outside Alley Katz just a few weeks ago met with the same fate? What about the bartender who was arrested for being drunk while bar tending? What about the drive shootings in days gone by? The fire that caused the Schoolhouse Apts to burn down? I also remember about the gang who murdered Nickie Gomez too. I guess all of this has miraculously slipped your mind, because you live in such a great neighborhood. The houses in the “horseshoe” on 15th Street NE is a ghetto and is drug infested. In case you don’t get out much they are behind the lumber yard. So don’t call my comments “stupid”, because they are fact. Better to be thought of a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt Black Larry.
Red Larry-You are so full of crap it’s no wonder we don’t want you back in our town. With your sour disposition you belong in California with all the other strange people. As I said, Federal Avenue is in another country (probably yours). Almost all of the problems in this town happen on Federal (Alley Katz) or other establishments like it and not in the residentual area’s. Yes, occasionaly we have a issue in the North End, mostly by people from somewhere else (probably where you are). There are many more issue in other parts of the city. If you don’t like it here stay the HELL out.
HAHAHA! Look at all the turds smoking outside the litter box
Probably been hurting business at the Park Inn with all the crap going on just a couple of blocks from there. All that crap is GREAT PR for MASON CITY!!! But you spend yer money fixen City Hall instead!!!! You all deserve what your getting in MASON!!!!
It’s about time law enforcement started flexing their muscle by patrolling the north end of Mason City! Too much stuff has happened in recent weeks, months and in the course of a few years as well. Alley Katz is a magnet for crime recently, and should be the focus of the police’s attention. No one feels safe living in Mason City, especially the crime infested north end. Murder, public drunkenness, firing of weapons in the city limits, and God knows what else is going on in this section of Mason City. I hope law enforcement does this every weekend, and maybe twice a week during the week…at random.
Completely agree. Kudos to the MCPD and other law enforcement for rooting out the scumb. There’s lots more to go, the place is a zoo, just drive down there tonight and see for yourself!
AGREE MATT this is all leading to gated communities/blocks.
Wrong! I feel perfectly safe in Mason City. And if you feel unsafe here, better bolt the door and hide in the basement, and never leave the region. You would not survive one day anywhere else!