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Melee on Monroe: “Like a scene out of Grand Theft Auto” (160+ photos)

MASON CITY – The sweet, wet stench of booze wafted through the evening air, so thick that only certain elected officials would appreciate it.

The piercing sound of sirens, the babble of police radios, the low rumble of the running engine of an ambulance, blended with the murmur of people’s voices, which came and went at each corner.  The ambulance hung back from the main fray, yet stayed centrally located on a bridge between two convenience stores.  No one was quite sure where the next hot spot would flare, or if the situation had stabilized.  Children giggled and laughed, but the looks on the faces of the adults were much more serious.

An otherwise tranquil evening in Mason City was spoiled by violence, as a melee broke out in the middle of the becoming-infamous thoroughfare known as Monroe Avenue.

The trouble started at the corner of Monroe and the 400 block of 2nd Street NW, according to Mason City Lt. Logan Wernet, and spread south to the 100 block of South Monroe Avenue.  A person reported that two women were fighting, and then another report came in that a van had driven through and a knife had been thrown from it at someone.  Groups of men were reported to be fighting at the 100 block of South Monroe.

Law enforcement converged on the area Wednesday at about 7:45 PM, and soon had at least two men in handcuffs.  One person was taken away in an ambulance.

At the scene near Monroe Avenue and 2nd Street NW, as well as at the corner of Monroe and 1st NW – home to a newly-opened liquor store – police had groups of people stopped, asking questions, and taking statements.  Onlookers and residents milled about, mostly in small groups, watching.  Some sat on their stoops, smoking cigarettes.  Others danced and jabbed one another in the ribs.

The ambulance soon pulled away, and police questioned a woman in a silver van with Worth county license plates, who inexplicably emerged from her vehicle with a plastic bag full of pill bottles and a jar of Vasoline.

Another van (also from Worth county) drove through as cops were dispersing the crowd, and the female driver had choice words for a certain photographer.  “Who da – – – – you pointin’ dat camera at mo – – – – – – – – – -?!”  She exclaimed, with a cigarette in one hand and the other on the steering wheel.

“This is like a scene out of Grand Theft Auto!” a person was overheard saying, referring to a popular video game with crime, violence and police.

Police chased the van down and had the driver pull over.  Soon, everyone in the van had to get out, and police questioned them.

A woman then exited a nearby house with at least 6 children, wanting to know what was going on.

At about 10:00 PM. police were called back to a nearby area at the 200 block of North Jefferson.

At least 7 individuals were outside a home there, threatening a person inside.  The aggressors were reported to have boards and other objects, some of them being thrown at the house.  It was said they then fled the area and were headed to … 110 South Monroe Avenue. Later, at about 10:30 PM, the same person called police to report her car had been hit with a baseball bat.

CLICK PHOTOS TO VIEW LARGER

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Nearby residents at the 400 block of 2nd Street NW look on and can only shake their heads
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Drama brought to the lives of children
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A local resident looks on
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Hey boy hey.
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Officers investigate and question
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A child’s bike in the boulevard, surrounded by filth. The Blue Zone hasn’t reached the 4 blocks from downtown to this neighborhood.
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Black underpants lay in the gutter.
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Thirsty? A mostly-drank can of Old Milwaukee’s Best Light awaits you here.
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Officers investigate and question
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Yes, this is a hair piece or perhaps a hair weave. It was ripped out of the head of a woman involved in the fight.
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Frothy goodness… possibly slightly flat.
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One of several rubber gloves in the street at the scene on 2nd Street NW.
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Officers investigate and question
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More folks gathered as the cops hung around to sort the matter out.
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Weave, free to anyone who come by and grabs it. May need a shampoo, though.
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Not thrilled at first about being photographed, but very friendly once told it was for NIT.
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This van drove through the middle of the investigation and the driver had choice words for some folks. Police chased it down and had the driver pull over to be questioned.
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Van occupants get out to face cops.
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A child’s backpack lies in the boulevard, near booze cans, hair weaves, rubber gloves, and other unmentionables.
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Heading home once the situation died down. The tan building in front of them caught fire last month and suffered major damage.
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This female apparently knows a man in the squad car who had just been cuffed and loaded up…
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Here he is, under arrest, apparently involved in the melee that erupted on Monroe Avenue.
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A bag of drugs and Vasoline to go with a chat with a cop.
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Ever played the video game Grand Theft Auto? Plenty of colorful characters out and about in MC as law enforcement sorts out trouble.
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Just hummin’ some tunes while folks get pummeled. Probably not listening to ‘Seventy-six Trombones’
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Never run from a cop.
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Trash, litter and debris where a group of folks held an informal MMA brawl.
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A woman blocks her face as cops question her.
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A leisurely stroll through River City.
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This van was also involved in the altercation in some way. Police wouldn’t say exactly how, yet, but a bystander said a person in a van drove past a group of people and threw a knife at another person.
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Arrested. Innocent until proven guilty.
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Arrested. Innocent until proven guilty.
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Taken to squad car for transport.
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Cops investigate.
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You have the right to remain silent…
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Foul-mouthed woman stopped by cops, pulls over for questioning.
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Enjoy your chat with law enforcement.
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Puff, puff, pass.
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Beltless man chummin’ with his entourage.
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Van lady prefers to stay out of the news.
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Famous Footwear.
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Van ladies.
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Woman with several children come out of house.
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No comment.
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Police were very interested in this silver van.
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Police were very interested in this silver van.
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Just kickin’ it.
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A woman was taken away and turned down a police officer’s offer to return her hair to her.
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Cheap entertainment.
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You have the right to remain silent…
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Sgt. Steve Klemas picks up the hair weave to deliver it to a woman … who didn’t want it back.
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A live episode of “COPS” was enjoyed by this patriotic young man.
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Your name, please.
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A bag of drugs as the cops look on.
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I’m dad’s little man.
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Sgt. Steve Klemas investigates.
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Stop the vehicle, and get out.
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Peeps in the ‘hood.
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Halt!
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Cops roll up at the booze store.
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Normal, everyday people.
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A little medical attention before going to jail.
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Anything sharp in your pockets?
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Trash and litter strewn about.
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Someone spilled their beer.
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North Iowa law enforcement work together.
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The bag of drugs.
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Yaaaa. What’s … in the bag?

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To help prevent crime in your neighborhood, heed the words of Eric “the crime dog” Bookmeyer, and “Don’t be afraid of snitchin'”.

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Insane. Love these pics tho. Instant classics.

So now that the St. Louis race riots have begun, does anyone still want to doubt my wisdom on this issue? America has never properly atoned for what it had done, and the specter of racism is still present, because the freed slaves are essentially political refugees. The formula of District 9 doesn’t work. They need their own homeland, governmental structure, and policing…and money…BILLIONS.

@Philly-You are wrong here. We owe them nothing. I had nothing to do with them coming here and neither did any of my relatives. They are responsible for their own actions and it is not anyone’s fault but their own.

That’s not true LVS, there is a collective responsibility to manage the damage that was done by slavery. There’s an argument to be made about prosecuting only States that were involved with slavery, and families or businesses, but truth was Northern states because of reciprocation acts, would ship escaped slaves back to Southern authorities to be returned to plantations. So essentially those States and progeny are guilty as well. You want to solve the problem righteously or exterminate?

I refuse to accept responsibility for what other people that had nothing to do with me or my family did in the past. It is wrong to blame other people when the fault lies with the people breaking our laws today. Beliefs like your do nothing but enable these thugs to keep on destroying property and stealing from people who have never done anything to them.

So you only want to benefit from the good parts of America’s past and not accept responsibility for the bad parts? If you want to wrap yourself in the flag, you are wrapping yourself in all of the flag, not part of it…and this history has never properly been atoned for. You can bitch and moan about it all you want, but until reparations are made, with the option for a distinct state to call homeland, racial tensions will always remain. It will NEVER end.

Accepting responsiblity for others actions is ludicrous. History should be acknowleged and learned from.

“and this history has never properly been atoned for.”
By the US? How about the African States that perptuated slavery? How about England?

Why is slavery only discussed in relation to the Afican slaves, but never the white slaves.

Answer this: Why does England have better race relations than the US?

@Philly-It could end and end sooner than a lot of people think. People are getting fed up with the thugs destroying property and endangering people who have never done a thing to them. These people have a lot more opportunity than we do and if you don’t believe that look at the free education, free food, free lodging, free insurance, and it goes on and on and it is never enough. The end could be very near. Just saying.

todd may be shithead ,but trailer park trash ,HE’s not, ibet you have never met him or talked to him, he a nice guy ,soooooo piss off

@Nightwing-I have read Mr. Blodgett’s stuff on facebook and he has written several times about how much he dislikes the KKK. These people make up crap about him just because his father happened to make a good living and supports the party of his choice. They are bottom feeders and he is not.

I just noticed that video of Bookmeyer saying “Don’t be afraid of snitchin”. First of all, being right and justified isn’t snitching: It’s called telling the truth. The Mayor shouldn’t even acknowledge the mafioso, underground term of “snitchin” in the first place. IF a bully is picking on someone, and you tell the teacher, it’s called CURING THE PROBLEM. It should never get to an “us against them” mentality in the first place. BECOME the govt., don’t be scared of it.

He stole from City Hall? Can you provide the link to the article you wrote about this? Or explain? I wasn’t aware of this. I only marginally followed Bookmeyer politics in the last two elections, so I actually know very little about the man and why everyone finds him egregious…not to say he isn’t, it’s just I haven’t been exposed to all the reasons why.

It depends on the circumstances of course, but the idea of being a “snitch” is rooted in gang mentality. In an open air truthful and honest democracy and community, “informing” about someone would be tantamount to reporting on the weather…no big deal. “Oh, so you saw so and so smoking some marijuana huh? Was it a good strain?” You see, only bad laws, or bad actions need worry about such terms as snitching. Following a virtuous and true path is not snitching. Gangs fear the truth

So essentially I agree with the Mayor. If you witness or know about bad behavior that is harmful to the environment, an animal or a human, by all means report what you know to applicable authorities. Who among us would cover up for a rape? A burglary? A murder? Most of the people who inflict the taboo of “snitching” upon others are mainly drug dealers and thieves. Had the jailhouse “snitch” not informed of Angela Johnson’s horrible deeds, those bodies wouldn’t have been found.

And if humans find disagreement with laws which elicit “snitching”, they can air their grievances to the Senate, so they may walk with their heads held high. Let their actions face the test of sunlight. Snitching will be dissolved in virtue if actions are good and true. Those worried about snitching 9X out of 10 are bad people with something to hide. Injustice you say? Partisan Rebellion? Yes, the only complications which threaten Pax Romana, but irrelevant in harmonious society.

Hell yes shoot them scum, send their dead black butt’s back where they come from. Scum is there name they got to go. I do not care how they go any ways a good way. Hillary your a nut job yes. Nothing wrong with some body like 2old2fat or Blodgett, pack some heat, may be they can take some them scum out if they do I say give out some medal’s to them guys.

Very strange. When I watched KIMT News at noon today there was not a single word about this. Plenty of news about Burlington,Mn and of course Rochester, Mn. but not a word about this or anything else in Mason City. They should be kicked out of Iowa and a station brought in that would report Iowa news. A little about Minnesota is O.K. but enough is enough.

LVS, KIMT refused to give a squirt of coverage on last fall’s area elections. Such inaction always favors incumbents. I’ve been calling out KIMT for many months now, on their tepid, vacuous coverage. I saw a bunch of them in Lorados bar last fall, drinking it up, surrounded by local druggies, and criminals. I knew at that point Mason City had an intractable situation going on.

funny thing is, if you want Mason City coverage, you have to watch Robin on channel 10. lol

Years ago watching KIMT News at the end of the day was like getting a good night kiss before bedtime. Weather with Bob, all North Iowa News, special reports and in depth coverage of local interest stories. Those days are over and I have said goodbye and no thanks. It all about advertising dollars and they are getting more revenue out of Minnesota so that’s what drives the focus of their coverage.

Nice to know in two weeks this will continue in the school systems

They didn’t come here for a better life, if they had of, they could have found it. They came here for the freebies that this city gives out, advertised far and wide by a council person many years ago.

Where was the Mayor and the Council Members when this was happening. Hiding in their homes or at the country club? So much for their Blue Zone. They have turned Monroe Avenue into a slum just like where they came from.

Where was the GLOB and KIMT when this was happening? KIMT was probably in Minnesota doing a feel good story. You can make all the excuses you want about these imports but no one is forcing them to act the way they do or to peddle drugs. They come here for a better life and then turn our city into Chicago or Detroit. They bring their problems on themselves. Send them back where they came from.

@Matt-I sure wish I had said that.

Why? Is it your job to report the news, or create the news?

@bagodad-No its not. But I do like coming up with stuff to put down smart mouth’s like you who are just trying to start a fight. Now, piss off jerk.

@Matt-Good answer.

Have you all ever wonder where the other two media is when crap like this happens? What a bunch of scaredy cats!
HA
But on the other hand they are both a controlled media they don’t want us citizens to know what really is going on in this town!

The black plague is upon Mason City…

This just isn’t right…The pictures make it look like the projects in Chicago and Detroit. But as long as we have people that want drugs here… they will come. Dealers are coming with family members and then starting new families with the white women of low self-esteem. They take them in and are wooed by the money. It is a sad state of affairs, but it is as basic as the main tenet of Economics 101, supply and demand.

You mess with any NIT photographers and I’ll personally drag you Detroit rejects back where you belong behind my Harley and you WILL take that weave with you!

Thays just immigrants from chitcago and deadtroit – and yes we have drugs and drink milwaukees best beer up here but living in a international society we export it to slum avenue once known as Monroe scenic drive down south.

This is almost like a snapshot into the early 1800’s and what it must have looked like when authorities rounded up escaped slaves to bring them back to the plantation: I see white guys rounding up black guys. This will never end until Liberia is properly funded, and these people have their own homeland and political control. There is too much deep seated mistrust and wounds that will never heal. Doesn’t matter if slavery ended 200 years ago, the karma still lingers on.

Eric our drunken mayor should be ashamed of himself. All he cares about is his upscale buddies and how much he can f**k the city and its people. Just wondering how they got Jean M to pose while riding the fat pig in front of the decker house??? Our once proud city has gone to the imports of Detroit and Chicago. You all born and bred Mason Citians better start packin cause this shit aint going to get any better.

Now we know why the riot vehicle is in town……..

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