Robbery victim pistol-whipped, then arrested

A man was pistol-whipped during a robbery Monday in southwest Cedar Rapids, but he and another victim were arrested, police said.

Police responded around 6:30 p.m. to a robbery at 2228 Westdale Dr. SW, No. 4. The residents told police two men came in with a handgun, ordered them to get on the floor and took a gaming system, computer and other electronics.

According to the police report, the victims answered the door because they were expecting company.

Joe G. Privetta , 26, was hurt when one of the suspects struck him in the head with the gun, police said. He was taken to Mercy Mercy Medical Center where he was treated and released.

Privetta and the other resident, Jamie L. Shea, 21, were arrested, though, after a K-9 unit dog detected the smell of drugs in the apartment. Police found marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Both signed a promise to appear in court and were not taken to jail, police said.

No arrests have been made in the robbery. One of the men is described as a stocky black male with a mustache, around 5-foot-10 and 220 to 240 pounds. He was wearing black pants and a black shirt.

The other man was described as mixed race, about 6-foot-1 and 170 to 180 pounds. He was wearing a blue shirt under a black hooded sweat shirt and a baseball hat.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call police at (319) 286-5491.