18-year-old arrested in connection with armed robbery, police say

Police arrested an 18-year-old Cedar Rapids man Thursday after he was allegedly caught stealing from a vehicle then displayed a handgun when confronted.

According to the Cedar Rapids Police Department, officers were called at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday to the 1600 block of C Avenue NW. When they arrived, they encountered a 24-year-old man who reported being robbed.

Police said the suspect – who was later identified as Muzuri Kevin Yenge – entered the victim’s vehicle and took the victim’s wallet.

Police said the victim approached the vehicle and confronted Yenge, who brandished a handgun and fled.

The victim provided officers with a physical description of the suspect, as well as the suspect’s direction of travel, police said.

Officers canvassed the area and received subsequent information from a witness standing at 18th Street and B Avenue NW. The witness told police he saw an individual matching Yenge’s description running southbound on 19th Street NW.

Officers searched the area and found Yenge behind Christ Church Presbyterian at 2000 1st Avenue NW. Police said Yenge had run around the front of the building and attempted to hide from officers behind an air-conditioning unit. He was taken into custody without incident.

Police said the victim’s wallet was found in Yenge’s possession, and officers were able to recover the handgun and a hooded sweatshirt Yenge was wearing.

Yenge faces charges of first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary.

Court records show Yenge faces charges in a previous case for first-degree theft, attempt to elude, interference with official acts and possession of drug paraphernalia.

That case stems from an incident last November when police allegedly spotted Yenge driving a stolen 2014 Chevrolet Cruze with a passenger and attempted to make a traffic stop.

The criminal complaint states Yenge led officers on a high speed chase, eventually stopping the vehicle in a residential area where he and the passenger fled on foot. The two were found hiding in a backyard of a house and were taken into custody.

That case is scheduled to go to trial later this month, court records show.

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