All charges dismissed

Published 8:32 am Tuesday, April 30, 2013

All charges against a man — whom police say exhibited very strange behavior in Austin — have been dismissed after a mental evaluation.

Charges for third-degree assault, obstructing the legal process and fourth-degree assault against Alberto Andres Almanza, 22, of Austin, were all dismissed Thursday in Mower County Court.

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 reportedly 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, the complaint adds.

Officers later gained control of Almanza, and hospital staff sedated him.