Cedar Rapids police make quick arrests of two armed suspects in less than an hour

CEDAR RAPIDS - Two men were arrested in separate incidents Sunday morning after police said the victims were able to call for help while the suspects were still on the scene.

The first incident was reported at 6:30 a.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at 350 First Ave. NE for a reported burglary.

According to the criminal complaint, a suspect forced his way into and employee entrance after he was denied entry at the hotel's front door.

Police said after 41-year-old Juvernal Habyarimana was turned away at the front door, he went to a back door and rang the doorbell. When he was denied entry again, the criminal complaint states, he 'pulled a black handgun from him pocket, racked the slide and stated ‘then I will do what I have to do.'”

He then forced his way inside and asked to speak to the manager, police said.

Police arrived a short time later, according to the complaint, and arrested Habyarimana. The complaint states a Power Line .77 caliber BB gun and methamphetamine were found in Habyarimana's possession.

Habyarimana faces charged of first-degree burglary and possession of a controlled substance.

A second person, Shevanald Lee Gibbs, 32, was arrested in a separate incident, police said.

At 7:22 a.m., he displayed a box cutter to a driver stopped at a red light near 13th Street and First Avenue E, then got in the car.

According to the criminal complaint, Gibbs threatened to kill the 45-year-old female driver if she did not take him to the Fas Fuel station at 1430 First Ave. SE, police said.

The complaint states a physical struggle ensued and Gibbs was dropped off at the Fas Fuel station.

The woman, who had cash stolen, was able to escape uninjured and call for help. Officers found Gibbs still at the scene, police said. The complaint states he was found in possession of a utility knife at the time of the arrest.

He faces charges of first-degree robbery and third-degree kidnapping.

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