Weary traveler guilty of felony after prowling around Mason City

MASON CITY – This weary traveler with a history of violence who was prowling around Mason City with no license plates on his car and savvily approached police to ask for help finding a woman at 1:34 AM on a cold wintry morning decided to flee when the officer started asking questions, and after stop sticks halted his goofiness, more felony convictions shall haunt him permanently.

NIT previously reported that Tapblie Dhum, address unknown, and now age 19, traveled to Mason City, looking for a a woman.   Police told NIT that at 1:34 AM on the morning of March 22, 2025, this suspect flagged down a Mason City police officer driving by in the 900 block of North Monroe Ave.  Dhum claimed to be from Des Moines, police said, and wanted the officer to tell him where a female lived in Mason City.  The officer refused to provide any info and asked why the subject was trying to find the female, and also inquired about his own identity. Dhum was evasive and aroused the officer’s suspicion… and then more officers responded. As other officers started to arrive, the subject got into his illegally parked 2017 Chevy Trax, that had no license plates, and drove away.

The pursuit ended when Dhum drove over stop sticks and was arrested.  He was charged with a number of crimes and jailed.  Eventually, Dhum was guilty of felony D eluding at speeds over 25 miles per hour over the speed limit.  For all that, he was sentenced to only a suspended prison sentence, a suspended fine, 3 years of probation and a bill owed to Iowa courts for $140.  The judge dismissed a charge of interference with police, but charged him $60 more.  A judge also dismissed charges of no driver’s license, failure to stop at a stop sign, and no insurance, and levied a few more small fees.  Records show Dhum has paid $0 on his balances.

Dhum has a history of violence.  In 2022, he was charged and later convicted in Story county for felony willful injury, felony intimidation with a dangerous weapon, and felony intimidation.  He was placed in a state training school for juveniles, but soon released.

Already this year, since his Mason City adventure, Dhum has been found guilty of interference with police and it cost him $662.50.  He was also nabbed with no driver’s license, and this time he was guilty and it cost him $503.50.