Waterloo teens charged in robbery at Cedar Rapids Sears store

CEDAR RAPIDS - Two Waterloo teens face charges after a robbery at Sears.

According to the Cedar Rapids Police Department, two subjects - later identified as 18-year-old Ferid Mahalbasic and 18-year-old Danaesha Martin - entered Sears, 4444 First Ave. East, around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police said Mahalbasic and Martin took items inside the store.

When employees approached Mahalbasic about the theft, he allegedly fought with them and spit in the face of one employee, police said. One of the employees suffered an injury to the forearm area from being bitten and an injury to the mouth and nose from being hit in the face.

The teens were arrested and Mahalbasic faces one count of second-degree robbery. Martin faces a charge of aggravated theft. Police said Mahalbasic was also wanted on warrants for two counts of theft and assault. Those warrants were out of Black Hawk County.