Lang
8/26/23
A Cedar Rapids man who threatened Shelter House residents with a knife last year is back behind bars after a reported probation violation.
43-year-old Michael Trask Jr. was booked in to the Johnson County Jail just before 1:00 Friday afternoon. Trask was given a two-year suspended sentence and two years of probation after pleading guilty to an Assault While Displaying a Dangerous Weapon charge last October. Iowa City Police say last August he was seen on a surveillance camera with an open pocket knife in his right hand, gesturing the blade towards individuals outside Shelter House on Southgate Avenue. Trask was then seen putting the knife into his rear right side pants pocket, which is where officers reportedly located it. He allegedly told officers that he was angry because someone stole his beer.
Police say that Trask showed signs of intoxication. While being placed into handcuffs, Trask allegedly told the officer he should watch how tight he put them on because he would put them on the officer’s wife or daughter just as tight. He also allegedly called the officer a “retard.”
Trask is now accused of violating terms of his probation by relapsing from his Fort Dodge-based alcohol treatment program on August 2nd. Multiple “shooters” of liquor were reportedly found in his living space. Trask’s employer, Teriyaki Madness, told investigators he had been fired for reporting to work while intoxicated. On August 5th Trask was arrested by the Webster County Sheriff’s Office for Trespassing and Interference With Official Acts Causing Bodily Injury.