Police use video, fingerprint evidence to arrest robbery suspect

CEDAR RAPIDS - Police have arrested a suspect in connection with a months-old robbery thanks to the analysis of fingerprint evidence, according to a criminal complaint that was filed with Linn County District Court.

Malik J. Muhammad, 20, of Cedar Rapids, was charged Friday in Linn County District Court with one count of first-degree robbery.

Police believe Muhammad robbed the store clerk at El Mercadito on April 9, holding the clerk at knifepoint.

Muhammad was identified using the store's security footage and fingerprint evidence, according to the criminal complaint.

The security footage allegedly showed Muhammad jumping over the store's counter and knocking the clerk to the ground. Muhammad then allegedly held a knife to the clerk's throat and demanded the code for the cash register.

After taking the cash from the register, the complaint states Muhammad punched the store clerk in the face and left. The clerk suffered visible facial injuries, the complaint states.

Investigators also noted from the footage that a paper sack had fallen out of Muhammad's coat during the robbery, which was collected as evidence and used to obtain and identify fingerprints belonging to Muhammad, according to the complaint.

Muhammad is being held at Linn County Jail on a $10,000 cash bond.

l Comments: kat.russell@thegazette.com