Iowa City man accused of convenience store, Lyft robberies

IOWA CITY - An Iowa City man is accused of robbing a convenience store and Lyft driver within 30 minutes of each other.

Iowa City police said Parker A. Hawkins, 25, entered the Kum & Go store at 2303 Muscatine Ave. at 5:59 a.m. March 17, where he handed an employee a note demanding money. When asked, Hawkins said he had a weapon, police said.

He left the store and then requested a ride via the Lyft ride-hailing service. When the driver arrived at Dodge Street and Kirkwood Avenue around 6:23 a.m., Hawkins approached the driver's side window and told the driver he was armed and was taking the vehicle, Iowa City police said.

The Lyft driver got out of the vehicle, and Hawkins got in, driving away.

Hawkins was identified through security footage from Kum & Go, his profile picture on the Lyft app and his alias, 'Forest,” which police said he has used in the past. He was found with the stolen vehicle in Washington County.

Hawkins was arrested Tuesday and faces two counts of first-degree robbery, a Class B felony; and one count each of first-degree burglary, a Class B felony. second-degree theft, a Class D felony, and fifth-degree theft, a simple misdemeanor.

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