Transient man accused of threatening 911 caller with box cutter

A transient man was arrested at a shelter Wednesday morning after becoming involved in a dispute and allegedly threatening a 911 caller with a box cutter.

According to a crime report, authorities responded to the Wesley Center, 120 N Dubuque St., at 10:42 a.m. after a caller reported that that Christopher Yates, 54, was intoxicated and armed with a knife.

The caller told police Yates was involved in a dispute with another person and when he called 911, Yates allegedly displayed the box cutter, threatening him and saying, "Go ahead and call the police, I'll cut you."

Yates also threatened that he would "cut [the victim] from ear to ear," according to police reports.

Officers said Yates smelled strongly of alcohol, and had been convicted of third offense public intoxication in March.

Yates is being charged with assault with display of a weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor, and public intoxication. He was being held at the Johnson County Jail Thursday on $10,000 cash bond.