Santiago Perez, 26 of Austin, is in the Mower County Jail, facing charges of fourth degree sexual assault.

Tuesday, August 08, 2000

Santiago Perez, 26 of Austin, is in the Mower County Jail, facing charges of fourth degree sexual assault.

According to an Austin Police Department report, Perez was observed in a highly intoxicated state and exposing himself at the Bobee Jo’s bar at 435 10th St. NE early Monday.

A 50-year-old female patron of the bar left the establishment at 1:24 a.m. and walked across the rail yards toward her home.

She told police she saw a man, later identified as Perez following her. The man propositioned her for sex, and she ignored him. Then, she was knocked to the ground and a man attempted to disrobe her. She screamed, and the man got up and fled the area, but was seen by an employee of the bar.

Police were called and a description of the man given by the bar patrons, the bar manager and the victim.

Perez was picked up near the area and taken to the jail.

Safe discovered

LEROY – Brenda Soltau noticed a safe in the water beneath a bridge over Mower County No. 12 last Friday.

With the help of friends, the safe was pulled from the water and the Mower County Sheriff’s Department notified.

A hole in the door of the safe had been pried open, revealing checks inside. The checks were traced to the Red Man Inn at Orchard, Iowa and the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Department contacted.

The Iowa deputies retrieved the safe which was reported taken in a burglary last week.

Teen suffers injuries

LANSING – A 13-year-old boy from rural Austin is recovering from injuries suffered in a dirt bike accident Monday.

The mishap occurred at 5:35 p.m. Monday, according to a Mower County Sheriff’s Department report.

The youth was riding a motorized dirt bike on his parents’ property when he lost control.

The rider fell to the ground and the dirt bike landed on top of him, according to the report.

His injuries included a broken collarbone and a dislocated hip, according to the accident report.

Victim recants story

A 36-year-old woman, who alleged she was sexually assaulted by three males, has recanted her story.

According to Austin Police Chief Paul M. Philipp the woman told investigators she fabricated the story.

The case is considered closed, according to the police chief, and no charges are expected to be filed against the woman, who is now in the Mower County Jail for violating conditions of her release for another earlier criminal charge.