Woman involved in officer-involved shooting was wanted for Cedar Falls Von Maur theft

CEDAR FALLS - A Saint Louis woman wanted in connection with a $5,500 theft in Cedar Falls last month was involved in Thursday's officer-involved shooting in Washington County, authorities said.

On Friday, the Cedar Falls Police Department announced they had obtained an arrest warrant for 26-year-old Tiffany R. Reed.

Police said Reed and two other suspects entered the Von Maur, 6301 University Ave., on Sept. 15 and took thousands of dollars worth of clothing. The suspects were caught on camera committing the theft and images were disseminated to the public.

After the incident, Cedar Falls police were contacted by authorities in West Des Moines who said that police there had identified Reed and her associates committing similar thefts at the Jordan Creek Mall. Cedar Falls police said Reed has a 'lengthy criminal history” in surrounding states and has recently been arrested for robbery, theft, vehicular homicide, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property and other charges.

Reed and two other people were taken into custody Thursday in Washington County. According to the Iowa Department of Public Safety, the Iowa State Patrol was notified of a suspicious vehicle involved in retail thefts in the Cedar Rapids area around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. A trooper located the suspect vehicle - a Dodge Charger - driving southbound on Interstate 380 near the Interstate 80 interchange. The trooper initiated a traffic stop, but the driver of the Charger fled and a chase ensued.

The trooper was assisted by the Johnson County Sheriff's Office and state patrol's air wing and followed the suspects to the Kalona/Lone Tree exit off Highway 218. Authorities said the suspects pulled into a gas station, failed to comply with a trooper's orders and hit a Johnson County squad car. At that time, the trooper fired a single shot at the suspect vehicle. No one was injured.

Authorities said three people were taken into custody at the scene. Reed and one other person was taken to the Washington County Jail. The third person was transported to the Linn County Jail. Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Richard Rahn said the names of the three people involved were not yet released Friday afternoon and that he could not confirm the Cedar Falls police news release.

Sheriff Brian Gardner said the person taken to the Linn County Jail was 30-year-old Lafonda Davis. She was booked on warrants from the Cedar Rapids Police Department for interference with official acts and providing false information. Gardner said Davis was released on her own recognizance Friday morning.

Cedar Rapids spokesman Maria Johnson said the Cedar Rapids Police Department does not have any pending charges against Tiffany Reed. She said Cedar Rapids officers have not connected her with any thefts in the city.

'There just hasn't been a connection made at this point,” Johnson said.

Cedar Falls police said the two other suspects in the von Maur theft case have not been identified.