Cedar Rapids woman faces burglary charges after apartment incidents blocks apart

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids woman accused of breaking into one apartment and trying to break into another faces multiple charges.

Virgie J. Cooks, 27, faces two counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of assault on a peace officer and one count of fourth-degree criminal mischief.

The charges stem from incidents early Thursday, according to the Cedar Rapids Police Department.

Officers were called at 1:30 a.m. to an apartment in the 1500 block of A Avenue NE. A woman reported Cooks had broken into her apartment and waved a knife while screaming and yelling. Cooks took two cellphones and left, the apartment occupant said.

Cooks also is accused of throwing a rock at a window of the apartment and breaking it before going inside.

Cooks was found about 2:10 a.m. after police received a report that someone was trying to break into a residence in the 1300 block of Second Avenue SE.

Police said Cooks had a knife and the two phones reported stolen earlier.

While officers attempted to take Cooks into custody, she spat in their faces, according to a criminal complaint.

' Comments: (319) 398-8238; kat.russell@thegazette.com