A mistrial was declared Thursday in the trial of Reed Bender. He was accused of obstruction of law enforcement when he refused to leave a Mitchell School Board meeting in September of 2020. Bender refused to wear a facemask in compliance with school district protocols. He resisted when Police officers asked him to leave which led to a physical altercation. States Attorney Jim Miskimins says the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. A new trial is set for January. The charge is a misdemeanor.
