Trial postponed for Colfax man who pulled handgun during December arrest

A continuance was filed Monday in the case of a Colfax man who pulled a gun during a December confrontation with Colfax police officers outside his downtown apartment.

Matthew S. Holett, 23, is charged with carrying weapons, an aggravated misdemeanor, and interference with official acts, a Class D felony, after pulling a .22 cal. handgun while being detained at 12:36 a.m. Dec. 13 by Colfax police in the 10 block of East Howard Street.

Holett was scheduled to appear in Jasper County District Court Monday for a pretrial conference. Online court records indicate Iowa 5th District Court Judge Brad McCall filed the continuance, rescheduling the 23-year-old’s court date for April 6 and his jury trial for May 20.

Dashcam footage obtained from the incident shows Holett pulling a pistol from his waistband during the arrest. Holett began yelling at police after he arrived on scene during the arrest of another man seen in the video urinating on the side of a building.

The Colfax officer approached Holett — who appeared agitated — and informed the subject he was arresting his friend for pubic urination. The officer then asked Holett if he had been drinking. The 23-year-old offered to perform a breathalyzer for the officer. The report indicates Holett appeared intoxicated at the scene. As Holett began to walk toward the police SUV, the subject quickly turned to enter his apartment. The officer then attempted to handcuff Holett.

During the struggle, Holett pulled a handgun from his waistband, appearing to point the weapon at the officer around his back and between his legs.

Holett managed to open his apartment door, he ran inside and officers pursued. The report indicates police used a Taser to subdue Holett as he allegedly attempted to discard the weapon between the wall of the apartment and a refrigerator.

Holett called out to a woman who was apparently in the apartment at the time of the arrest. Holett yelled for her to lock the apartment door and not let anyone inside.

Officers began walking Holett from the apartment after he was cuffed when he once again began to resist, falling to the ground. The subject then attempted to kick officers while on his back. One officer maced Holett, causing the subject to repeat “I can’t breathe.” Law enforcement had Colfax ambulance dispatched to the scene, and Holett was transported to Skiff Medical Center in Newton, before he was taken to the Jasper County Jail. He was released on $5,000 bond shortly after his arrest.

During the arrest, Holett dropped a marijuana smoking pipe and gun magazine on the ground, according to the police report. Officers reported the hammer of the gun was cocked back, did not contain a magazine and did not have a bullet in the chamber when recovered. Holett claimed several times during the incident he did not have a gun.

The incident was made public during the Jan. 12 Colfax City Council meeting when Colfax Police Chief Andy Summy briefed council member on monthly police activity.

Holett is also facing drug charges from the Colfax Police Department stemming from a June 24 incident. Online court records show the April 6 pretrial conference will include discussion of his June 2014 controlled substance possession.

Contact Mike Mendenhall at mmendenhall@jaspercountrytribune.com