Complaint: Man smashed windows at two southeast Cedar Rapids stores, stole items from one

CEDAR RAPIDS - Police arrested a Cedar Rapids man early Monday accused of smashing store windows at two businesses on Third Avenue SE.

According to the criminal complaint, Deshawn Bell, 29, is charged with two counts of second-degree criminal mischief, a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Police said officers responded around 2:30 a.m. on March 15 to an alarm at Shoe Plug, 709 Third Ave. SE. Officers also had received reports of breaking glass in the area.

Police said officers arrived at the store and found its front glass window had been broken. Officers found windows at another store - Simply Serendipity - at 713 Third Ave. SE also had been broken.

Clothing also was taken from Shoe Plug, officials said. Court documents estimate the damage caused at each store exceeded $1,000.

Public safety spokesman Greg Buelow said officers found Bell in the 500 block of Eighth Street SE that night, but he denied any involvement.

As the investigation progressed, police said they obtained surveillance video and identified Bell as the suspect.

He was taken into custody at 3:01 a.m. Monday at a Kum & Go at 1420 Mount Vernon Rd. when an officer identified Bell while he was inside the store.

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