A Mankato man is charged with assault after he raised a katana sword at an officer during a welfare check in August, according to a criminal complaint.
Joseph Thomas Rewitzer, 35, faces a felony count of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. The complaint was filed Oct. 6 in Blue Earth County District Court, and he was summoned to appear in court.
According to the complaint, officers with the Mankato Department of Public Safety went to a residence in Mankato on Aug. 28 for a welfare check. After they had talked with Rewitzer for about 20 minutes, he reached for a katana sword and raised it in a threatening manner, and one of the officers feared he could be killed or seriously injured, the complaint says.
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Officers then detained Rewitzer, according to the complaint.
The assault count carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, a $14,000 fine or both, according to the complaint.
