Two Mason City men arrested for burglary and stealing a car

MASON CITY – Early Sunday morning, Mason City police arrested two Mason City men for stealing a car and for burglary.

According to police, at about 4:25 AM, two police officers noticed a vehicle driving aggressively in the area of 15th Street NW and Jefferson Avenue. Officers were able to get the vehicle stopped near 15th and North Madison.

During the initial stop with the occupants it was quickly learned that the vehicle had been recently stolen from the impound lot belonging to Affordable Towing.

The driver of the vehicle was Ethan Thorngren, 21, and the passenger was Joshua Bendickson, 18, both of Mason City. It appears at this time that Thorngren and Bendickson worked together to steal the vehicle that they were caught in from the impound lot at Affordable Towing. Officers located damage to the fencing at that location as well as learned that at least one of the other vehicles stored there had been entered into and an item removed.

At the conclusion of the investigation, police said, Thorngren was charged with 2nd offense OWI, driving under suspension, theft in the second degree, criminal mischief in the fifth degree and burglary in the third degree.

Bendickson was charged with minor consumption, theft in the second degree, criminal mischief in the fifth degree and joint criminal conduct. Thorngen and Bendickson were both held on $5,000 bond at the Cerro Gordo County Jail.

Bendickson was recently arrested for carry a dangerous weapon.