Police: Search leads to drug, theft charges

IOWA CITY - Two roommates face multiple charges for theft and drug possession following a police search of their Iowa City apartment.

According to Iowa City police complaints, officers arrested 24-year-old Brandon Mickens Dec. 10 for a controlled substance violation.

Upon arrival to the Johnson County Jail, deputies located a plastic bag with 18 individually packaged plastic bags of marijuana on his person, police say.

The following day, police executed a search warrant at Mickens' 920 E. Burlington St. apartment.

During the search, officers found several stolen items in the possession of Mickens' roommate, 25-year-old Earl McKee, according to police.

Police say McKee stole a multiple laptops, a PlayStation 3, and other various electronics between May and December of this year. All told, the stolen items were valued at more than $3,600, according to police.

Mickens faces two class D felonies for controlled substance violation and a third Class D felony for introducing a controlled substance into a correctional facility.

McKee has been charged with two class D felonies for second degree theft, another Class D felony for controlled substance violation, two aggravated misdemeanors for third degree theft, two serious misdemeanors for fourth degree theft, and a simple misdemeanor fifth degree theft charge.

Both men were booked Wednesday in the Johnson County Jail and were still in custody Thursday morning.