MASON CITY — A Mason City man with multiple recent assault-related court cases is again behind bars after police say a July 4 assault left a victim with visible injuries, raised fears that he was armed with a gun and forced officers to lock down part of a neighborhood on North President Avenue.
Tishaun D. Esaw, 28, was booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail at 11:27 a.m. on July 5, 2026, after police found him inside an apartment in the 1300 block of North President Avenue.
According to Mason City Police Chief Mike McKelvey, the latest case began at 5:56 p.m. on July 4, when a person reported an assault in that block. Police said the victim had visible injuries, and officers suspected Esaw had gone back inside an apartment in the same block and was armed with a firearm.
Police and fire medics responded and began locking down the area around the apartment building. Residents within a few houses of the building were told to shelter in place as officers worked to obtain arrest warrants and a search warrant.
The warrants were approved, and the North Central Iowa Area Narcotics Task Force Special Operations Group was called in to assist. But when police entered the apartment, they found it empty. Authorities believe Esaw left the apartment after the alleged assault but before officers arrived.
The next morning, at 9:56 a.m. on July 5, a witness reported Esaw was back inside the apartment. Officers returned, surrounded the building again and apprehended him inside.
Esaw (pictured at top) was charged with two counts of violation of a no-contact/protective order, domestic abuse assault with intent to inflict serious injury, and possession of a firearm or offensive weapon by a domestic abuse offender.
Court records show a new felony case was filed July 5 in Cerro Gordo County District Court under case number FECR035055. In that case, Esaw is charged with dominion or control of a firearm or offensive weapon by a domestic abuse offender, a Class D felony, and domestic abuse assault with intent to inflict serious injury, first offense, an aggravated misdemeanor.
The latest arrest adds to a growing pattern of alleged violence and court-order violations that has repeatedly brought Esaw before the courts in recent months.
In November 2025, Esaw was charged with domestic abuse assault, first offense, in Cerro Gordo County case SMSM044565. He later entered a negotiated guilty plea to assault — general, a simple misdemeanor, on December 9, 2025. A no-contact order had been issued in that case in November, according to court filings.
In January 2026, Esaw was charged in another Cerro Gordo County case, SRCR034639, with domestic abuse assault causing injury or mental illness, first offense. That case remains pending, according to the court summary. Court records also show a no-contact order was issued in that case on January 12.
Esaw was later accused of violating a no-contact/protective order on February 5, 2026. Court records show he entered a negotiated guilty plea to contempt of court for that violation on February 12 and was sentenced to seven days in jail.
The same pending January case now also lists two new contempt counts accusing Esaw of violating a no-contact/protective order on July 4 and July 5.
Court filings show Esaw was held for bond after an initial appearance on July 6, with a contempt hearing scheduled for July 14. Jail records listed multiple holds with no bond until seen by a magistrate, along with a $5,000 cash/surety bond entry.
A Class D felony in Iowa is punishable by up to five years in prison. An aggravated misdemeanor is punishable by up to two years in prison.
Police have not released additional details on the victim’s condition or whether a firearm was recovered.
Esaw is presumed innocent of the new charges unless and until proven guilty in court.