Man who recently helped save two women from burning house jailed on warrant and cited for carrying dangerous weapon

MASON CITY – A man who helped two women out of a burning house this past July is now in jail on a warrant for aggravated domestic assault and faces new charges of carrying dangerous weapons.

A Mason City police officer stopped and spoke with a “suspicious subject” near Federal Avenue and 2nd Street North on Tuesday just after midnight.  The officer discovered that the subject, Joshua Allen Bendickson, 18, showing an Osage address, had a valid Cerro Gordo county warrant.

Bendickson was arrested and taken to the Cerro Gordo County Jail on a warrant for a domestic assault and was also cited for carrying a dangerous weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor.  He is being held on $3000 cash bond at this time.

According to records, Bendickson was arrested by the Mason City Police Department after an October 9th, 2012 domestic incident and charged with domestic abuse/assault involving impeding the flow of air/blood to the victim.  Bendickson has pled not guilty.  However, on November 1st, a warrant was issued for his arrest after a pre-trial violation of his release.

In July, Judge Ronald Wagenaar threw out charges against Bendickson for possession of drug paraphernalia but was assessed court costs of $66.00 after he plead guilty to an undisclosed “related charge.”  Bendickson also plead guilty to public intoxication on May 31st, 2012 and still owes $214.50 to the court in that case.  Again on September 17th, 2012, he plead guilty to public intoxication and still owes $363.00 to the court in that case. Bendisckson faces yet another charge of public intoxication after the October 9th, 2012 domestic incident.

On July 20th, 2012, Bendickson plead guilty to 5th degree theft after charges were brought by the Mason City Police Department.  He still owes $513.85 to the court in that case.  Bendickson plead guilty to 5th degree theft after an October 24th, 2012 incident as well.  He still owes the court $455.00 in that case.

NorthIowaToday.com reported in July that Josh Bendickson happened to be riding his bike by a house located at 1220 North Washington Avenue at about 4:30 AM when he saw flames coming out the upstairs window. He ran to get a friend to help, and the two men helped occupants out of the house to safety.  “I just got out of jail last night at midnight,” Bendickson said to NIT reporters.  “Who would have thought I’d be saving two lives this morning. My adrenaline is really high, I feel very good about what I did.”  The friend had left and wanted to remain anonymous.