Cedar Rapids man forced woman to withdraw cash at knifepoint

A Cedar Rapids man is facing several robbery and assault charges after police say he threatened a woman with a kitchen knife and forced her to withdraw cash for him.

According to Cedar Rapids Police criminal complaints, on Sunday Paul Leland Robinson, 28, approached a woman 'in a threatening manner” while holding 'a large kitchen knife” in the 3000 block of Pioneer Avenue SE.

Robinson cut the woman's hand as she tried to defend herself and knocked a cellphone from her hand as she attempted to dial 911, the complaints said. Robinson then forced the woman at knifepoint to drive to an ATM and withdraw $400 in cash. He also took possession of her gun while on the way to the ATM, according to complaints.

Robinson is charged with first-degree robbery, false imprisonment, obstruction of an emergency communication, and assault while displaying a dangerous weapon.

First-degree robbery is a Class B felony under Iowa Code, while the other charges are misdemeanors of varying degrees.

The maximum sentence for a Class B felony in Iowa is 25 years.