Attempted murder by stabbing early Monday along Interstate 80

A Mason City man has been charged with attempted murder and possession of a controlled substance-third or subsequent offense following an incident on Interstate 80 over the weekend.

According to the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, just before 12 a.m. Monday, dispatch received a cellular 911 call. The line was open but initially there was no response. A short time later, the dispatcher could hear a female screaming “stop” repeatedly. Their 911 mapping showed hte call was coming from a location on Interstate 80.

At 12:04 a.m. a passerby placed a second cellular 911 call. The male caller described some sort of altercation between a male and female, in or very near the inside of the lane of travel. The caller also noted a vehicle in the ditch west of the male and female. The caller made this call at about the 84 mile marker, which is east of the Casey interchange.

An Adair County deputy and an Adair police officer arrived at the 84 mile marker at 12:06 a.m. and located a vehicle in the ditch, but they did not initially locate any persons. Later, yelling could be heard east of their location.

Law enforcement then located a male subject holding another person in his arms with what appeared to be blood on the ground near the two. The male subject was handcuffed and life-saving treatment was immediately administered to the adult female. The female stated that it was the male subject who was in our custody who had stabbed her.

It is believed that the female was stabbed or cut in excess of 10 times with at least one stab wound causing potentially life-threatening injuries. The victim was transported by air ambulance to a Des Moines area hospital.

The male subject was identified as Michael T. Dolezal, 50, of Mason City. Dolezal was placed under arrest and transported to the Adair County Jail. He was charged with attempted murder and possession of a controlled substance-third or subsequent offense. At his initial appearance, Dolezal’s bond was set at $300,000 cash only.

First responders assisting with this critical incident include Adair Police Department, Stuart Police Department, Adair Rescue, Stuart Rescue, Adair County Ambulance and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office/Communications Center.

The incident remains under investigation. The Adair County Sheriff’s Office has no additional information to release at this time.

It should be noted a criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.