Waterloo man charged in two Cedar Rapids robberies

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Waterloo man is accused of committing robberies two days in a row this week.

According to the Linn County Attorney's Office, the first robbery took place Monday in the 1000 block of Third Avenue SE. Authorities said 20-year-old Quintarus J. Roby attacked the victim - a 15-year-old boy - as he was walking to the Polk Alternative Education Center. The boy was hit in the face and a necklace was stolen, the criminal complaint states.

Police said Roby later posted a photo of himself wearing the stolen necklace on Facebook.

The next day, Roby allegedly confronted a 15-year-old boy in the 100 block of 15th Street and demanded his phone. When the boy refused to hand over the phone, Roby hit him, according to court documents. Authorities said Roby grabbed the victim's phone and fled.

A bystander who witnessed the robbery chased Roby and Roby allegedly threatened to 'pop” the witness, authorities said.

Cedar Rapids police captured Roby near where the robbery took place and recovered the victim's phone, court documents said.

Cedar Rapids public safety spokesman Greg Buelow said the victims in the two robbery were different 15-year-old boys.

Roby has been arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree robbery, a class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.