MASON CITY – A local woman allegedly entered a retail store this week and displayed a weapon, leading to her arrest for harassment.
According to police, Clare Genioara Birkedal, age 24 of Mason City, entered the MC Sports store, located at 452 Indianhead Drive, on Tuesday at about 5:15 PM and asked for a specific employee there. When the employee came to wait on Birkedal, she allegedly began raising her voice in a confrontational manner and crowded the employee’s personal space. Birkedal was carrying a sweatshirt at this time which she then moved, revealing what appeared to be a firearm worn in a holster on her waist. It is believed that the agitated, confrontational manner of Birkedal combined with her allegedly showing the firearm or bb gun worn on her side at the same time was done with the intent to intimidate the employee.
Police said that Birkedal never removed the firearm / bb gun or made a specific threat to use the firearm. Birkedal was arrested at 8:31 PM that evening and charged with 3rd degree harassment. She was also banned from the store. She was taken to the Cerro Gordo County Jail, and soon thereafter posted $300.00 bond and was released. She awaits a December 30th court date.
Records indicate that Mason City police returned to the MC Sports store Tuesday evening at 10:04 PM to provide a stand-by as employees closed up for the evening.
On Thursday, Birkedal wrote two comments about her arrest on social media, saying “I will not be made wise by the recollection of my past. But by the responsibility I have For My Future.” She went on to say “Our mistakes, my mistake, our past, my past is often used to shape us into who we are and who we will become.”
The incident at MC Sports is the second time in December Birkedal has been arrested for being out of line in an Indianhead retail store.
Police confirmed that on December 3, 2013, Birkedal was in the Mason City Wal-Mart at about 10:51 AM when employees called police to report a female was in the store, acting strange and damaging merchandise. Police responded and observed Birkedal in the pharmacy section tearing open numerous merchandise packages after she grabbed them off the shelves. Birkedal appeared to be trying to use some of the products immediately after she removed them from the packaging while other items were discarded after she opened the packaging. Police stopped her destructive behavior and cited and released Birkedal for 5th degree criminal mischief. She is accused of damaging $35 worth of merchandise during this incident.
She faces a non-jury trial on January 10, 2014 on the theft charge.
SUBJECT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
I agree with LVS, surely high on something. It’s hard to tell from the story if the gun had the potential to take a life, if used for that purpose. Regardless, she should be charged with carrying a deadly weapon, as that is what her intent was. With her police record, she would not pass a NIC check if done correctly. Unfortunatly there is no system that is fail safe, especially one run by the government.
They do, untill they proove they should not be allowed to
I thought people had the right to carry.
That Right ends at a private property line.
Thank God for that!
Thant only works with people that are not criminals, and carry legally.
The trouble is that we call too many criminals mon. A Rasta man should be able to protect his self even though he uses herb. A drunk and nicotine user can own a gun to protect his self mon.
Nothing against the Rastaman, to each his own. Do you think this story is about a Rasta mon…
If she endeed had a gun, or owns one, please tell us that these bazarr actions allowed athorities to take it away.
Probably high on drugs.