23-year-old pleads not guilty to alleged assault with knife

An Austin man who allegedly chased and attacked a group of teenagers and an 18-year-old with a knife on July 10 pleaded not guilty Thursday in Mower County Court.

Mayai Arob Shaben Cobai, 23, pleaded not guilty to second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, terroristic threats and fifth-degree assault with previous convictions — all felonies — and a gross misdemeanor charge for obstruction of legal process.

According to the court complaint, Cobai was at someone else’s home on the 1000 block of First Avenue SW when he refused to let one victim leave the porch. One teen tried to get on his own bike and leave, but Cobai reportedly wouldn’t allow him. Cobai allegedly threatened the teen and others with a knife and chased them through nearby alleys. The scuffle ended in a fight, and Cobai lost hold of the knife.

When officers arrived, Cobai allegedly kicked, screamed and tried to grab their weapons. Officers then used mace on Cobai and took him to the Mower County jail. His pretrial is set for Sept. 6.

Cobai was also convicted of felony fourth-degree assault of a peace officer in April after a Star Liquor employee said Cobai stole a $13 bottle of brandy and fled. Cobai tried to punch an officer, fought with others and spit at the squad car before being placed in a spit hood and arrested in January 2012. Cobai was also convicted of terroristic threats last June when he threatened his father and an officer with a knife.

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