Police: Ames Train Engineer Threatens to Kill 2 Homeless Men and Another Man

An Ames train engineer faces multiple counts of first-degree harassment and aggravated assault for allegedly threatening to kill three men, two of whom were homeless, according to criminal complaints.

Michael Nootz, 55, allegedly confronted three men in three locations around Ames on Sunday, July 1. He is accused of displaying a gun and saying he would kill them if they didn't leave the county, reports said.

Nootz has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault and three counts of first-degree harassment.

Nootz allegedly told at least one of the men that he worked for the railroad and police ultimately identified him, using photographs supplied by Union Pacific, Ames Police Sgt. Rory Echer said.

Nootz confronted the third man outside off of South Duff Avenue, where he workd, Echer said.

The homeless men came to the police station on Monday, July 2 and filed reports. Police learned during their investigation that a third man had been threatened outside his workplace, Echer said. Nootz was charged with two counts of first-degree harassment and two counts of aggravated assault July 2 and one additional count each of first-degree harassment and aggravated assault on Thursday.

According to a report in the Ames Tribune, Nootz reportedly gave the two homeless men printouts with information about a train gang called “Freight Train Riders of America” and a section of the Iowa Code that states that it's legal to shoot stray dogs without tags.

Echer said when Nootz gave the men the papers that he told them he would shoot them if he ever saw them again. 

Aggravated assault and first-degree harassment are aggravated misdemeanors. Nootz had been held in Story County Jail on bond and has since been released.

The listed phone number for Nootz had been disconnected.