A District Court judge will decide whether or not David Beshey will be released from jail.
Beshey, 47, a Fort Dodge police lieutenant who is on leave, is charged with first-degree burglary and stalking. He has been in jail on $50,000 bond since his arrest on Feb. 14.
At a bond review hearing on Friday, Judge William Ostlund listened to testimony from both prosecutors and defense to make his decision, which is expected to come next week.
Beshey took the stand and answered questions from both his attorney, William Habhab, of Fort Dodge, and Laura Roan, an assistant Iowa attorney general, who is prosecuting the case.
Roan argued that Beshey should not be released, saying he sent more than 100 text messages to Diane Smith, one of the alleged victims, until his arrest.
Beshey is accused of going into Smith's Fort Dodge apartment and trying to remove Brad Bockert by grabbing his arm and dragging him. Bockert allegedly was able to break free and leave the apartment on his own.
The incident happened in January, according to a police report.
Under questioning from Roan, Beshey admitted that he continued to contact Smith even after the alleged incident at her apartment.
"I was attempting to re-establish a relationship," he told Roan in court.
Because of this, Roan argued, Beshey should not be released from jail.
"This relentless, zealous, threatening, superfocused conduct continued until he was arrested," she said.
Habhab told Ostlund that he would like Beshey to be released with supervision to the Department of Corrections.
Beshey, answering questions from Habhab, stated that he has worked for the city of Fort Dodge for more than 20 years, joining the Fort Dodge Fire Department in 1989 and remaining there until he joined the Fort Dodge Police Department in 1996.
He told Habhab that he would stay away from anybody if he was told not to contact them.
Beshey also told Roan that he would stay away from Smith, if he were released.
"I do not want to be in jail," he said. "I will respect the dignity of Diane Smith. I do not want her to fear me."
Ostlund had not made a decision as of late Friday afternoon.
Beshey pleaded not guilty to the charges on Monday. His trial is scheduled for April 24.
Contact Peter Kaspari at (515) 573-2141 or pkaspari@messengernews.net