Waseca man charged with assault on Owatonna

OWATONNA — A Waseca man is facing more than theft charges after he tried to drive off without paying for gas and allegedly assaulted the gas station owner who tried to stop him.

Michael Davis, 25, was charged with felony second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, harassment, theft and reckless driving.

According to the criminal complaint, on Aug. 13, a Medford gas station owner saw a man fill gas but then attempt to leave without paying. The owner went out and jumped onto the hood of the car to stop Davis from leaving. Davis then put the car in reverse with the woman still holding on. She was able to jump off just before Davis hit the side of the building. The woman then ran to the side of the car and tried to take the keys out of the ignition, the complaint said.

Davis drove off with the woman still partially hanging on. The gas station owner reported there were about five people in the car at the time.

Later that day, a Steele County Sheriff’s sergeant was leaving the Law Enforcement Center when he saw a vehicle matching the description of Davis’s car.

The sergeant pulled the car over and took Davis and two others to the Steele County Detention Center for questioning.

Two of the men were with Davis at the time of the incident. One told officers they had went to Faribault and back to Owatonna after stopping in Medford. One of the men said Davis told them they were going to do a “gas and go” as he pulled into the gas station.

Damage on Davis’s vehicle was consistent with that on the gas station wall.

Davis was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 2. If convicted of assault, he faces a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a $14,000 fine. The harassment charge is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $7,000 fine. The two lesser charges carry a penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, each.

Wendy Reuer can be reached at 444-1565.

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Member Opinions: By: secretsquirrel on 8/20/09 Some might view it as a heroic act to jump on the hood of a car to prevent them from getting away with a few bucks worth of gas. Some might consider it the act of a moron with a death wish. I see it as amazing that the kid can be charged with assault when the dumb ass woman leaped onto the hood of a car being driven by a criminal. He's a crook and she's an idiot. Unless, of course, she is larger than the car she was attacking and the criminal seemed like a nice guy.... IJS. By: NewsHound on 8/20/09 What gas station? By: hawk on 8/20/09 Some companies would fire an employee for taking such risk taking. Get the license number and report it. The juice here was not worth the squeeze. Secretsquirrel, I could not agree more, in my fathers words "when two fools met" By: quagmire on 8/21/09 Sounds like an episode of The Dukes of Hazzard (or shall I say Medford). Yee Haw By: bettyjbug on 8/21/09 Interesting how things get glorified and knowing there was a well known, retired Owatonna business man as a witness really helps in clearing this story. People will protect their businesses as many of us have seen on t.v. news but unless you're there, don't be so fast to judge what really happened. I have yet to meet a person in Medford that owns a business and is considered a fool of any sort. This criminal was escalating in crimes in several counties...good thing he will start to pay for all of it and he was released for a hearing in a different county. Stopping crime is sometimes in our own hands and judgement. Drive-offs are an everyday occurance and a theif will steal others plates or cover up their own to try to be undedected. Losses can be made up for by higher prices on the "good paying" customers. Thanks for trying to keep more money in my pocketbook. By: OwatonnOT on 8/21/09 Ha ha secretsquirrel. My thoughts exactly. By: quinn on 8/21/09 I don't know, but I've gotta go with secretsquirrel and hawk on this one. unless the man gassed up to the tune of $800.00, I think it would have been more prudent to simply let law enforcement handle it. By: thetruth on 8/21/09 If the squirrel and hawk would have seen the situation as it unfolded, he would be such a smart aleck. As the attendant came around the front of the car, she heard the driver put it in gear, so, rather than get run over, she went for the hood. This was no "Hazzard" moment. She was concerned for her safety. Furthermore, if more people would act and react when things (criminal) happen around them, maybe criminals would think twice before attempting acts. By: quinn on 8/21/09 And then she tried to remove the keys from the ignition, as well? If you want to give your life, saving a loved one or even a complete stranger, that is commendable, if you're willing to sacrifice yourself over a $30.00 gas drive off, that is just plain foolhardy. jmo. By: katokid88 on 8/22/09 if a car was put into gear while i was walking infront of it, my first thought would be to jump out of the way, not onto the hood.... By: bettyjbug on 8/22/09 Kato, everyone's instincts are different. There's not always time to move out of the way. The car will move faster than you. Quinn, are you a criminal yourself? No matter the cost, a crime is a crime. I guess you won't defend yourself when somebody will try to take the wallet from your pocket or the purse from you shoulder. Let us know when you're having your party called "Cocktails and Criminals." Invite them to your home to take what they want and let them go free. It's all free for them since they think they are above the law. I would hope somebody would chase a purse snatcher down for me and hold them until the police arrive. What some of the Dateline reports on citizens taking action when crimes occur. They are praised for their efforts. By: secretsquirrel on 8/22/09 bettyjbug/the truth, please read the following QUOTE from the article: "The owner went out and jumped onto the hood of the car to stop Davis from leaving. Davis then put the car in reverse with the woman still holding on. She was able to jump off just before Davis hit the side of the building. The woman then ran to the side of the car and tried to take the keys out of the ignition, the complaint said." Please show me where in that quote she was trying to save herself from being run over or where the driver was pursuing HER. SHE ACTIVELY PURSUED a moving vehicle with several males in it. THAT, in my humble opinion is sheer stupidity no matter HOW much gas was lost. This is no reflection on her general intelligence and that was not my point. My point was that risking her life over a what could not possibly have been more than a fifty dollar theft is absolutely foolish. I am not suggesting that these guys be let off or ignored but if she had the license plate number and a good description of the vehicle and occupants, they would be caught in short order anyway. One trip to the doctor's office would cost her more than the gas, You do the math, tell me if it makes sense. Even cops know when to call off a chase and they have guns and backup! I am sure that her family is proud of her but I really doubt they would feel so proud if they were burying her a few days later. I will trade pride for life on this one. By the way, if anyone wants to be on dateline, work an Amoco station in the cities WITHOUT the locked security door and bullet proof glass on a Saturday night. By: bettyjbug on 8/22/09 Well, knowing the story since I've heard it directly does make a difference. I'd pass your judgement elsewhere as the security tape will speak for itself and he stole dealer plates to cover himself up. Know the story and take the paper with a grain of salt. By: secretsquirrel on 8/22/09 Sorry but you just created a horrible image in my mind: Eating the OPP with salt... ack! Cough! Cough! Well, at least my fiber needs would be met for the day. I will give you this much bettyjbug: There are times when I either have or desperately wished to do something equally stupid for similar self-satisfying reasons. Examples? Fair enough: I shocked the neighbor's dog by rigging a capacitor to a deck post to teach it not to pee on my deck. This was done after repeated discussions with the guy AND repeated complaints to the police. I remember punching a man for calling my wife a vile name. I punched him again after he got up because it made ME feel better (Peaceful but not a pacifist). I rigged a bucket of doggy doo and water to surprise the kids who continually broke into my garage to riffle my tools and belongings and the tremendous feeling of liberation when it worked (Animal lover but not a toilet). I am an animal lover, peaceful, law-abiding man that loves kids and tries to do the right thing whenever and wherever I can. But everyone has limits, she reached hers that day. Do I understand? Absolutely, but like my dog doo puppy shocking punch the man in the mouth instances, each was pretty stupid and geared toward one thing: Making ME feel better by taking control of the situation any way I could. By: quinn on 8/22/09 Nice to know I'm not the only "criminal" posting here, ss. bettybug; Very noble that you would be willing to sacrifice someone else's life to get your purse back. By: bettyjbug on 8/24/09 Way to go squirrel...I'm sure she feels better as you did. Afterall, the county/counties in the area had been on the lookout for him. I'd hate to see what you would do if somebody were to steal from you if you knocked a guy down for calling your wife a foul name but hey, things escalate and the blood starts to boil. Yes, we all have our limits and when crossed, somebody is going to suffer.
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