Fairfield man armed with knife arrested after making threats

FAIRFIELD – A Fairfield man was arrested on Feb. 18, 2026, after making threats to several people while armed with a knife.

Adam James Schafer, 41, was charged with going armed with intent, interference with official acts, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. According to arresting officer Braeden Nielsen of the Fairfield Police Department, at 7:31 a.m. Wednesday, officers arrived in the 1300 block of West Jackson Avenue after receiving a report of a person “threatening people and waving a knife around.”

Officers made contact with the subject on the porch of one of the lots. Nielsen identified himself as a police officer and asked the subject to walk towards him with his hands up, but he refused. Witnesses told police that the subject was saying he would “slit the neighbors’ throats, including the children.”

Nielsen observed that the subject had a fixed blade knife in a holster. After being placed under arrest, the subject was taken into the back of Nielsen’s patrol vehicle, where he kicked the prisoner transport cage multiple times.

A news release from the Fairfield Police Department indicated that Schafer was detained at the Jefferson County Jail, and being held on bond pending an initial court appearance.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com