Three men face kidnapping, robbery charges in Iowa City pizza restaurant robbery

IOWA CITY - Three arrests in an early morning restaurant robbery could be the break Iowa City police have been looking for in a monthslong robbery investigation.

Two Chicago men and one Iowa City man face kidnapping and robbery charges in connection to a robbery Thursday morning at Domino's Pizza, but police said the men could be tied to a spate of robberies dating back to July.

'We're definitely exploring this robbery in relation to the other robberies that have occurred over the last few months,” said Iowa City Police Sgt. Scott Gaarde. 'We're certainly hoping the apprehension last night can lead to more arrests.”

According to the Iowa City Police Department, officers responded to a 911 call at Domino's Pizza, 529 S. Riverside Dr., at 2:40 a.m. Thursday. There, officers learned two men had entered the restaurant, displayed guns and demanded cash.

Police said after the four victims handed over money, the men forced them into the cooler of the store and fled. A vehicle description was put out to all area police officers.

Shortly thereafter, a North Liberty police officer saw a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle and attempted to pull the driver over. The suspect vehicle refused to pull over and a pursuit ensued.

Police said the chase continued to near the Coral Ridge Mall. There, three men got out of the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. The men were taken into custody.

The three men were found to be carrying cash, a cash bag and other items belonging to Domino's Pizza, police said. Two guns were also found along the chase route, police said.

The three men were identified as Corey M. Lindsey, 23, of Chicago; Keyshaun S. Hayes, 26, of Chicago and Martarious M. Junious, 25, of Iowa City. All three men face four counts of first-degree robbery and second-degree kidnapping. Both offenses are Class B felonies punishable by up to 25 years in prison.

The Domino's robbery is the latest in a spate of robberies in Iowa City over the last several months and is in proximity to a number of those robberies.

On Oct. 17, Iowa City police responded to two armed robberies at Kum & Go gas stations, including one located in the same block as the Domino's that was robbed Thursday morning.

Armed robberies were also committed on July 20, at First American Bank, 640 Highway 1 W; on July 23 at Culver's, 710 Highway 1 W; on July 26 at Pancheros, 965 Riverside Dr.; and on Sept. 4 at McDonald's, 2440 Mormon Trek Blvd.

Police said Thursday the Domino's robbery, as well as 'multiple other recent robberies with similar circumstances,” remain under investigation by the Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty police.

If this arrest does lead to police solving more of the robberies, it wouldn't be the first time, Gaarde said. In 2008, for instance, Iowa City was hit with a string of gas station robberies. Police ultimately caught two suspects in the act of robbing a Gasby's gas station and tied the men to several other robberies.

'Historically, in this area, when there are burglary or robbery rings, quite frequently, they are the same suspects and they go on this rash of similar incidents until we catch them,” Gaarde said.