Armed robbery suspect arrested after brief standoff

A Cedar Rapids man faces robbery and drug-related charges after he allegedly used an assault rifle to rob a man at gunpoint.

According to the Cedar Rapids Police Department, a 44-year-old man was meeting with a female resident at about 11 a.m. Saturday in a basement apartment in the 1700 block of Americus Drive SE when Garin D. Rimson, 25, came into the room with an AR-15 and demanded the man's cellphone and money.

No one was injured, and police said the man was able to leave to call 911 to report he had been robbed at gunpoint.

Police responded and 'after a short standoff” all of the residents, including Rimson, exited the apartment, according to the police department.

According to a criminal complaint, the man identified Rimson as the person who robbed him at gunpoint.

Officers secured a search warrant and recovered an AR-15 and a marijuana pipe with marijuana residue inside the apartment, which belonged to Rimson, police said.

Rimson was taken into custody and faces charges of first-degree robbery and possession of drug paraphernalia.

When asked about the incident, the criminal complaint states Rimson replied, 'I did what I had to do.”

Police said Rimson also has active warrants charging him with multiple traffic-related offenses, including driving while license is under suspension, leaving the scene of an accident and speeding.

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