A River Falls teen is facing serious charges after jumping another teen, brandishing a knife and stealing property in a downtown park.

Cody Graham Buschmann, 17, was ordered to pay $5,000 cash bail Jan. 26 in Pierce County Circuit Court on felony armed robbery (as party to a crime), felony child abuse – intentionally cause harm (as party to a crime), resisting or obstructing an officer and disorderly conduct charges. If convicted, the maximum penalty is up to 40 years in prison and/or fines up to $100,000.

According to the complaint:

Police responded at 9:33 p.m. Dec. 28 to River Falls Area Hospital, where a woman reported her son had been jumped by Buschmann and another juvenile around 7 p.m. at Veterans Park in downtown River Falls. The juvenile, who was with two other juveniles, was waiting for friends who were inside the movie theatre when Buschmann and another juvenile jumped him “out of nowhere,” he said.

One assailant was wearing a red bandanna and the other a black mask. Buschmann allegedly accused the juvenile of “running his mouth” and told him to give him his jacket. Buschmann tried to pull out a pocketknife but dropped it. The juvenile said he was punched in the face six times and struck in his back, side and stomach. He had a knot on his head and swelling to his jaw. His two friends Buschmann at one point said he had a gun, though they never saw one. The pair stole his red Tommy Hilfiger jacket and his black and red hat before fleeing the scene.

The juvenile’s mother said the boys jumped the juvenile in a previous incident not reported to police at Glen Park about two months prior. The mother said she didn’t report that incident because her son wasn’t hurt and she was able to get his property back. That time they stole his jacket, shoes and hat.

Both suspects’ parents denied their sons’ involvement in this latest incident. Both suspects also denied being in Veterans Park at that time. Police later found out that wasn’t the case.

On Jan. 16 while responding to one suspect’s home in the 400 block of North Wasson Lane for a separate incident, police learned his mother had found the stolen jacket and hat in his bedroom. She said she knew her son was involved, though she didn’t think he had struck the victim. She also told police Buschmann’s mother had told her she was going to burn the jacket so Buschmann didn’t get in trouble. The jacket, hat and ski mask were recovered from the juvenile suspect’s bedroom.

A witness told police she had been driving the suspect and Buschmann when they told her to pull over Dec. 28 near Veterans Park. She saw them jump the victim and said Buschmann brandished a knife. After the altercation they got back into the car and left while the victim and his friends ran toward Family Fresh.

Buschmann is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. Feb. 13.