RIVER FALLS – Bail has been set at $500,000 for the man accused of attempting a bank robbery and stabbing an employee April 28 at First National Bank of River Falls.

John William Klug IV, 24, River Falls, was ordered to pay $500,000 cash bond May 13 in Pirce County Circuit Court on felony attempted robbery of a financial institution and felony substantial battery charges. If convicted, the maximum penalty is 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $50,000.

Klug’s appearance in court was delayed due to receiving medical treatment. A competency hearing was also ordered on May 18.

According to the complaint:

Right before noon on Tuesday, April 28, Pierce County Dispatch notified River Falls police of an attempted robbery at First National Bank of River Falls (104 E. Locust St.) Officers were told that a white man wearing plaid green pants, a black shirt with a receding hair line brandished a knife and had cut one of the bank employees before fleeing the scene in a 2010 gray Nissan Cube. The vehicle was registered to Klug.

While fleeing from the bank, Klug swerved into oncoming traffic and crashed his vehicle into a River Falls squad car being driven by a reserve officer who was conducting parking enforcement in the 800 block of East Cascade Avenue. Klug fled from the scene; witnesses saw him run into a church at 425 E. Cascade Ave. Officers arrested him at the church. Both vehicles were disabled in the crash; the parking enforcement officer was not seriously injured.

An employee at the bank said the man came into the bank, made a statement about needing money and jumped over the counter where the bank tellers were located. He slashed one employee with a knife, which required nine stitches to close. Security footage at the bank confirmed the suspect as Klug.

Officers executed a search warrant on Klug’s vehicle where they found a black handled, silver blade kitchen knife about 9.5-inches long with a 4.5-inch blade. The blade appeared to have blood on it.

Allina EMS transported the injured bank employee to River Falls Area Hospital for treatment; they are expected to make a full recovery.

Klug currently has one St. Croix County Circuit Court case open, in which he is charged with theft – movable property, criminal trespass to dwelling and disorderly conduct. He pleaded not guilty to those charges March 9 and was released on $500 cash bond.

His next Pierce County court appearance is a status conference at 8:45 a.m. June 16.