Willmar man pleads not guilty to assault, trial date set

WILLMAR -- A Willmar man has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.

Daud Mahad Mohamed, 19, is accused of hitting another man in the head with a bottle.

Daud pleaded not guilty in Kandiyohi County District Court Tuesday.

Judge Michael Thompson scheduled a pre-trial hearing for Aug. 3 and a jury trial for Aug. 7.

According to the criminal complaint, two Willmar police officers on foot patrol in downtown Willmar saw a man, later identified as Mohamed, running after another man with a glass bottle in his hand. He allegedly had his arm cocked as if he was going to strike the man with it.

The officers pursued the men and caught up with them as Mohamed pinned the man to a parked vehicle and hit him in the head with the bottle. The men were separated by the officers.

A witness gave police a statement and said he saw Mohamed pull the bottle out of his pants pocket and hit the man in the head, according to the complaint.