Police say Iowa City man tried to redeem gift certificate stolen from charity drive

An Iowa City man has been arrested on suspicion of fifth-degree theft after police said he was caught with a female friend trying to use a stolen gift certificate from Active Endeavors that had been donated for a charity drive.

Active Endeavors personnel told investigators that they donated a stack of gift certificates for a local charity drive's upcoming event. Before the event, the organizer reported noticing that one of the certificates had been taken off his desk in his office, and he notified the store to be on the lookout, according to a criminal complaint.

Jason Chad Hawkins, 36, and his female friend are accused of trying to use the certificate to buy shoes on May 1, according to the complaint.

The store manager turned down the sale, contacted police and then followed them until officers arrived, according to the complaint. When questioned by police, Hawkins admitted to being with a female friend when she originally tried to use the certificate, the complaint states.

It was later discovered that Hawkins lives with the female friend, who works for a cleaning company that had access to the event organizer's desk, according to the complaint.

The gift certificate was valued at $50.

It was not immediately known whether the female friend was arrested on similar charges.