Three Iowa City robberies under investigation; two may be related

IOWA CITY — Iowa City police responded to a trio of robberies Tuesday night into Wednesday morning and authorities are exploring whether at least two of those robberies are related.

Officers were called to the 800 block of Bowery Street around 9:24 p.m. Tuesday for a report of an armed robbery. The victim told police a man asked him what time it was and when he responded, the man pointed a black handgun at his face. The assailant took the victim's wallet, cellphone and keys before running away, police said.

A search of the area did not turn up the suspect, who was described as being approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall with a medium build. The victim reported the man appeared to be in his late 20s or early 30s and he was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and baggy dark-washed jeans.

As the first robbery was being investigated, police received a report of a North Liberty woman who said she and her son had been robbed. The woman told police she was in the parking lot at 740 Westwinds Drive waiting for her son. Police said when her son was getting into the vehicle a man armed with a black handgun approached, pointed it at the boy and demanded cash.

When the woman said she didn't have any cash on her, the man grabbed her purse and dumped out the contents before fleeing on foot. He was not located when police responded to the area.

3 robberies

The suspect was described as being 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet tall with a medium to heavy build. Police said the suspect was unshaven and wearing a black stocking hat, navy blue or dark gray sweatshirt and dark pants.

Police said they are investigating any possible connections between these two robberies.

The third robbery report came in around 2:22 a.m. Wednesday. Officers were called to the 10 block of South Dubuque Street where the victim said he had been approached by three men who demanded money. The men then jumped the alleged victim and fled the area. The suspects were not located.

One of the suspects was described as 6 feet 2 inches tall and wearing a puffy black coat. The second suspect was described as 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall and wearing a dark beanie and a hooded sweatshirt. The third suspect was wearing a dark-colored sports jacket, police said.

Iowa City Area CrimeStoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspects in any of these robberies. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (319) 358-8477.

l Comments: (319) 398-8238; lee.hermiston@thegazette.com