Homeless man arrested after being accused of multiple thefts, pointing a gun at store employee

MASON CITY — A homeless man was arrested over the weekend in Mason City after multiple incidents, once for theft from a store and another after allegedly pointing a gun at an employee from another store.

Court records show that 55-year-old Anthony Peterson was in HyVee West on Friday morning where he had allegedly stolen a bottle of alcohol and left the building, with an officer later identifying him on video footage.

A separate complaint states that Peterson entered Walmart at about 10 o’clock on Saturday night where he selected merchandise, entered the restroom, began removing it from its packaging and concealed it. Peterson later harassed an employee, threatening to shoot her, placing the employee in fear for her life. After being arrested, officers allegedly found a baggie of marijuana in his left front coat pocket.

Peterson was charged with two counts of third-degree theft, first-degree harassment and possession of marijuana first offense.