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An Austin man has been charged with threats of violence and terroristic threats after allegedly threatening an employee of the Austin Post Office.

Wade Joseph Novak, 60, was charged with the two counts, both of them felonies, Thursday in Mower County District. He is currently in custody at the Mower County Jail.

According to the court complaint, Novak was upset regarding how his mail was being delivered and how he perceived he was being treated by an employee of the Post Office.

An Austin Police officer was dispatched to the Post Office at around 4:12 p.m. on April 15, for the report where he learned from the victim that Novak had made three calls starting with asking why the package had not been delivered.

Novak then allegedly started yelling, with no tracking number being provided, and eventually the victim hung up the phone. Novak then called again and allegedly threatened to assault the victim and followed that up by saying, “If I have to come down there (referring to the Post Office), I’m going to blow the lid off this building.”

After a third call, the victim said he was going to call the police, to which Novak said, “do it.”

Novak denied making threats when questioned by the officer, but admitted he was upset about his mail and how it was being delivered.

He claimed he called the second time because he wasn’t getting any assistance and admitted the victim said he was going to call the police on the third call. 

Novak is slated for initial appearance on April 28.

Novak is currently serving two years supervised probation after he was convicted in November of last year of gross misdemeanor impersonating a peace officer in May of 2023. 

In that case, a couple had been pulled over in the Culver’s parking lot by Novak who had flashing police lights and a flashing headline.

The victims in that case had told police that Novak had told them that they had been speeding and when asked by the victims for some identification, Novak claimed he was a detective.

A search warrant was conducted on the Mustang being driven by Novak and officers located a badge resembling a police badge and emergency lights on both the front and back of the vehicle. They also collected two strobe lights, a vehicle dash camera and a NAPD badge.