CR woman pleads not guilty to two armed robberies last month

A 27-year-old woman accused of using a BB gun to rob two Cedar Rapids pharmacies last month pleaded not guilty in a written arraignment Monday in Linn County District Court.

Tiffany Lynn Carlton, of Cedar Rapids, is charged with two counts of armed robbery. She is accused of robbing a Walgreens and Medicap Pharmacy on March 22.

Carlton walked into Walgreens, 3325 16th Ave. SW, and pointed the BB gun at clerks and a customer, demanding drugs, and then ran away, according to a police report.

Police then used a K-9 to track Carlton across 16th Avenue before the dog lost the scent several blocks away.  Hours later, officers received a second call of an armed robbery at the Medicap Pharmacy, 2030 6th St. SW. Witnesses and pharmacy staff said Carlton threatened them with the gun and demanded drugs. They called 911 after she left the pharmacy.

Carlton was arrested after a 15 minute chase that ended near 22nd Avenue. Police said they retrieve evidence from her which indicated she committed one of the robberies.