An Urbana man is facing multiple charges following a violent altercation that escalated to threats involving a firearm on Monday afternoon.
According to police, officers were dispatched around 4:01 p.m. on March 30 to the 200 block of Berwick Drive after Dawson Cohn reported he had been followed home by a dark gray Chrysler minivan. Cohn told dispatch that the driver exited the vehicle and punched him in the face, while a female passenger and two juveniles remained inside.
When officers arrived, they observed Cohn with a cut under his eye and scratches on his hands. He declined medical treatment and initially told police the attack was unprovoked.
However, the situation took a turn when the minivan returned to the scene. The driver told officers a different story, claiming Cohn had been driving recklessly and that he followed him to address the issue. He alleged Cohn exited his vehicle swinging an orange ratchet strap, leading to a physical altercation.
A woman in the minivan provided video of the incident, which officers reviewed on scene. Police say the video shows a verbal confrontation that escalated, with Cohn later retrieving a shotgun from his home, racking it, and making a threatening statement toward the group.
Officers detained Cohn and recovered a 12-gauge Kel-Tec KSG shotgun from his residence. He was taken to the Urbana Police Division, processed, and transported to the Tri-County Regional Jail.
Cohn is now charged with two counts of aggravated menacing, two counts of menacing, and disorderly conduct. The other individual involved in the incident was issued a summons for disorderly conduct.
The case remains under investigation.
