Iowa City man attempted to steal car from dealership

IOWA CITY — An Iowa City man is accused of trying to steal a $47,000 car from a dealership in the city.

Police responded at 7:14 p.m. Monday for a report of a stolen vehicle at Carousel Preowned, 265 Stevens Dr., according to the criminal complaint. Darryl Minniefield Jr., 34, was still at the dealership.

Police said Minniefield asked bystanders to bring a car to him from the dealership, saying he owned it but could not drive it because he didn’t have a license.

Staff saw the bystanders moving the car to a Hy-Vee gas pump, which is just across the street, and asked what they were doing. They told staff Minniefield had asked them to do so.

Dealership staff recognized Minniefield because he had been at Carousel earlier in the day and attempted to take another car, according to the criminal complaint. Staff told police Minniefield has been “casing” their cars.

Minniefield told police he asked the bystanders to get him the car so he could take it to a mall, but said he didn’t know when he was going to return the car.

Minniefield faces a first-degree theft charge, a felony. He also faces two charges of failing to appear for an arraignment for driving while barred.

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