Police say man was ‘going crazy,’ reciting Bible verses

Published 10:50 am Friday, November 2, 2012

Police say they encountered some very strange behavior from a local man several months ago, and now that man has been charged in court.

Alberto Andres Almanza, 21, of Austin, appeared for his first Mower County Court appearance on Thursday, charged with third-degree assault, obstructing the legal process and fourth-degree assault of an officer, all felonies.

According to the court complaint, police went to the 100 block of 12th Street NE in Austin when they received a call that Almanza was “going crazy,” had broken a coffee table and was carrying the glass. When police arrived, they found Almanza picking up the glass and reciting Biblical verses.

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The officers took Almanza to Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin to be evaluated where he allegedly mooned the hospital staff. Almanza then refused to put on hospital clothes for several minutes and said he wanted to go to jail, the complaint adds. Police say Almanza then took off his clothes and refused to get dressed. When officers tried to put a shirt on Almanza, he allegedly grabbed for one officer’s gun. The officer put Almanza in a wrist lock and tried to put a shirt on him again; however, Almanza grabbed the officer’s gun and was then wrestled to the ground. Officers struggled with Almanza, who wriggled free and kicked one officer in the knee and possibly caused ligament damage, the complaint adds. Officers later controlled Almanza, and hospital staff sedated him.

Almanza’s next court appearance is Nov. 15.