15-year-old arrested in latest Iowa City cab robbery, lives nearby

A 15-year-old accused of robbing a cab driver at gunpoint Thursday morning lives a short distance from where the robbery occurred.

Iowa City police said Thursday night they had arrested 15-year-old Willie Dean of 2524 Sylvan Glen Court for a robbery that occurred at 1034 Jensen St. at 4:43 a.m. Thursday. Dean, who is in custody at the Linn County Juvenile Detention Center, faces charges of first-degree robbery and interference with official acts.

Because of his age, he has been referred to juvenile court.

Details on what led police to Dean are sparse at this time. Sgt. Vicki Lalla said most of the reports on the case have not been turned in. However, she said investigators worked for more than 24 hours on the case.

Dean is accusing of holding a gun to the head of 31-year-old Marco's Taxi Cab driver Dan Oxenford, of Keota. Oxenford said he was called to a fare at 1034 Jensen St., but when he arrived, the lights were off and no one was around. Minutes later, a man with a hood pulled over his eyes held a black pistol to his head and took all of his cash.

It was the fourth robbery in that area in less than a week and the third involving a cab driver.

Dean lives about a block away from where another robbery occurred Wednesday night on Bittersweet Court. In that incident, the victim reported being robbed by two black men wearing dark hooded sweatshirts. It is currently unknown if Dean has been connected to any other robberies. He is also the only suspect in custody at this time.

Around 11 p.m. Friday night, a Five Stars Cab driver told police he had been robbed at gunpoint by two black men in the parking lot at 2437 Petsel Place. On Sunday night, a Yellow Cab driver dispatched to nearby Samoa Drive reported he was approached by a man who pulled a gun on him and demanded cash. That suspect was described as a black man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt.

Iowa City Area Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of these suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 358-8477.

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