A Bricelyn man has pleaded not guilty to threatening a group of people with a loaded gun and hitting one person over the head with a flashlight during an altercation in November.

Reed Steven Nelson, 59, on Friday pleaded not guilty in Freeborn County District Court to two counts of second-degree assault and one count of terroristic threats regarding the alleged incident.

His public defender, Stephen Erickson, has invoked his client’s Sixth Amendment right for a speedy trial.

Nelson was arrested Nov. 24 after a series of events at 2202 Milo Ave.

Court records state Nelson had sold his house at this address, when the buyer and some of his friends came to the house to move some belongings in.

The buyer told police problems arose after someone accidentally let Nelson’s dog run out of the house, court documents state. When Nelson tried to let the dog back in, an argument began.

During the argument, one of the buyer’s friends reportedly walked toward Nelson. Nelson allegedly interpreted this as an attempt to assault him so he reportedly struck the man in the head with a flashlight. The man reportedly then pushed Nelson to the ground.

Nelson then allegedly went to the kitchen, got a pistol and pointed it at the man and some of the others.

After the group left, officers surrounded the house and had to talk Nelson out of the house.

During a subsequent search of the house, police found a 9 mm pistol on the kitchen counter with a bullet in the chamber, along with loaded clips for the pistol and a black flashlight.

Nelson has been in custody ever since.

In court on Friday, Freeborn County District Court Judge Steve Schwab lowered the bail for Nelson to $10,000 with conditions and $30,000 without conditions. Bail had previously been $75,000 and $150,000, respectively.

Conditions include forfeiting weapons, having no contact with the alleged victims, remaining law abiding and not using or possessing firearms, among others.

The date for Nelson’s trial has not yet been set.