Wisconsin man arrested in Iowa City after knifepoint robbery and police standoff

A Wisconsin man was jailed Wednesday night after a robbery and burglary that led to a standoff with police during which one officer fired a gun.

Rick Lee Wappler, 41, of Cascade, Wis., was pulled over by Iowa City police earlier in the evening, and he indicated to officers he was armed with a knife before fleeing the scene, according to a news release from the police department.

Iowa City officers and Johnson County Sheriff’s deputies pursued Wappler, but gave up the pursuit due to the risk to public safety. Around 9:15 p.m., officers responded to a report of a hit-and-run crash near 130 Highway 1. Witness descriptions matched Wappler and the vehicle he was driving, the release states.

At 9:50 p.m., officers were called to the 100 block of Prairie Hill Lane for a robbery and carjacking. Wappler had reportedly charged a woman and forced entry into her home after she locked her vehicle when she saw Wappler standing near it, according to a criminal complaint.

The woman tried to barricade herself in a bedroom but Wappler kicked down the door and waved a knife in her face. He demanded she give him some things she had, and then he barricaded himself in her car, which is where he was found when police arrived, the complaint states.

Members of the police department’s Crisis Negotiation Team attempted to negotiate with Wappler for about three hours, after which police attempted to take him into custody. One officer fired a gun, but did not hit Wappler, and Wappler was taken into custody using less-lethal force.

Wappler was taken to the hospital for an evaluation and was transported to the Johnson County Jail Friday.

During the negotiation, police learned of another break-in involving Wappler that had occurred on the same block before he entered the woman’s house. According to a criminal complaint, Wappler had knocked on the door of a house and attacked the man who came to the door. Wappler forced his way into the house, and the man sustained a head injury during the assault.

The man, who is in his 70s, was bloodied when police made contact with him, and he was taken to the emergency room by ambulance. According to the complaint, more charges against Wappler will be forthcoming once the man has been treated and is fully capable of recounting what happened.

Currently, Wappler is facing two counts of first-degree burglary, one count of first-degree robbery and one count of going armed with intent. He had his first appearance in court Friday where his bond was set to $325,000.

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