Apartment Door Broken, Man Charged in Bemidji Burglary

A man got into a Beltrami County apartment without permission and later broke its door trying to get back in, amid a series of threatening and religious-themed text messages to the woman who lived there, according to the complaint.

Izaiah James Asher faces three felony charges: first-degree burglary involving assault, first-degree burglary of an occupied dwelling and second-degree burglary of a dwelling. The charges were filed October 23 in Beltrami County District Court.

According to the complaint, Bemidji police responded at about 9:05 p.m. on October 21 after the victim called 911 to report that Asher was forcing his way into her apartment. The victim told officers that Asher had moved out the week before, was not on the lease and no longer had access to the building. She said most of Asher’s property had already been removed from the apartment.

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The complaint states that Asher had been texting the victim about coming to the apartment and asked to be let in, but the victim told him he could not come inside. When the victim left her apartment with her dog, she returned to find Asher inside. She suspected he had entered through a sliding glass patio door. The victim was able to get Asher out of the apartment and into the hallway, but Asher kept approaching her and followed her as she tried to get help from a neighbor.

The victim managed to get back inside her apartment and locked the dead bolt. According to the complaint, Asher then tried to force his way back in by banging or kicking the door, eventually breaking it. The victim called 911 during this time. Officers arriving at the scene found Asher in the hallway with a woman.

When an officer attempted to detain him, Asher refused and made religious comments, playing what appeared to be gospel music on his phone. He was eventually detained and placed in a patrol vehicle.

The complaint details text messages Asher sent to the victim, including statements such as “Wherever you go there I am, no escape,” “Jesus Christ open the door,” “I saw you leave your apt,” “No escape,” and “Whoever’s place your in will feel my back knuckle collapse their nose bridge.” The victim sent multiple messages telling Asher not to break in and that she was not going to open the door, stating she “can’t be scared like this all the time.” The victim told police she was frightened for her safety and that Asher had a history of mental health diagnoses but had refused treatment.

Officers observed significant damage to both the patio door and the front door, with the front door likely unable to close or lock properly, according to the complaint.

The complaint says Asher’s criminal history includes a pending DWI charge from October 16 and a prior conviction for exhibition driving.