Osage man charged with assaulting GC police officer

An Osage man who allegedly resisted arrest and became combative toward officer Justin Fox has pled not guilty to a pair of felony charges stemming from an August 19 incident in Grundy Center.
           
Chase Christopher Penfold, age 29, is charged with Assault on a Peace Officer (a class D felony), Interference with Official Acts—Attempting Serious Injury (a class D felony) and Public Intoxication—Third or Subsequent Offense (an aggravated misdemeanor). According to a criminal complaint, Penfold, who was attending a wedding reception at the Old Fifty-Six just west of the Grundy Center city limits, resisted being detained after multiple commands to stop, then pushed Officer Fox several times before eventually swinging at him with a closed fist and hitting him on the head. The GCPD first responded to the call for service in reference to a drunk and disorderly patron, and deputies from the sheriff’s office arrived shortly thereafer.
           
An arrest warrant was issued on August 23, and the Osage Police Department served it on August 29. Penfold, who is being represented by public defender Jennie Wilson-Moore, made an initial appearance on August 30 and entered a written plea of not guilty. He was released from custody on September 1, and a pretrial hearing is scheduled for September 8.
           
Penfold has been charged with crimes on at least 15 other occasions over the last decade. Most notably, he was convicted of Second Degree Harassment in 2008, Domestic Abuse Assault in 2012, Operating While Under the Influence Third Offense in 2013 and Assault on Peace Officers and Others in 2014.
           
Fox could not immediately be reached for comment. 
 
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