Williamsburg robber used fake name while staying with roommate

Ryan Jack Randles, the man accused of robbing two locations in Williamsburg within a 24 hour period, used a fake name while staying with a roommate for two weeks before the robberies. That information and other details pertaining to how police were able to track down Randles was released to the public Tuesday.

Police were investigating two robberies that took place in Williamsburg between Oct. 19 and 20. The first robbery was at a Best Western hotel the night of the 19th and the second took place around 1:00 p.m. at Keokuk County State Bank the following day. Surveillance cameras inside of the bank caught video of the man brandishing a hand gun during the robbery.

According to an investigative report, the same night of the second robbery, police received a tip of suspicious activity taking place at 110 Vicky Lane, Unit 11 in Williamsburg. Around 7:40 p.m., Sgt. Bob Koop of the Williamsburg Police Department and Special Agent Thomas Reinwart of the FBI went to investigate the tip.

When they arrived, they met with Dale Asleson who was staying at unit 11 and Asleson invited the men into the condominium. When police asked Asleson if he knew why they were there, he told them he thought they were there to help him with his personal problems and problems with his roommate.

Asleson went on to tell the officers his roommate's name was “Joey or Joseph or Ryan Goldman,” but was not really sure what the man's name was. He stated Goldman told him he was from Chicago, but had family in Des Moines. Asleson added Goldman had been staying with him for around two weeks and had taken control of his life and had spent all of his money.

While officers were speaking to Asleson, Sgt. Kroop noticed a gray hooded sweatshirt, which resembled what the man who robbed the bank was wearing, laying on the floor of the living room. Alseson told the officers the hoodie was Goldman's.

In front of the officers, Asleson pulled out a white plastic bag that was in one of the pockets of the hoodie. Inside of the bag was a black plastic air-soft gun. Also inside was a hat with an NYPD logo that had been cut into pieces and a pair of sunglasses that had been taken apart

The gun, hat and sunglasses resembled the items seen in the bank surveillance footage taken during the second robbery.

When asked about Goldman's whereabouts, Asleson told police he gave Goldman permission to take his car, a gray, 2005 Volkswagon Jetta, to Iowa City to sell some old books or to get them appraised.

Police then showed Asleson two photos taken from the bank surveillance camera and he identified the man in the photos to be “Joey Goldman.” When asked if he was aware the bank had been robbed, Asleson said he had learned of it from a conversation with someone at a local gas station.

After the meeting with Asleson, a nationwide alert was put out for the vehicle, which was discovered Oct. 21 at a hotel in West Des Moines. Police arrested the 36-year-old Randles, who has no permanent address, around 8:20 p.m the same day.

When arrested, Randles had money in his possession that is believed to have come from the two robberies.

Randles was charged with two counts of second-degree robbery, second-degree theft, and fifth-degree theft.

Randles is being held at Polk County Jail on a $25,300 cash only bond. Randles also had warrants for his arrest from several Polk county agencies.