Crime & Safety

Iowa City Police: Tip Leads to Arrest of Armed Convenience Store Robber

Iowa City Police say that last week a robbery was reported at L&M Convenience store. However, an anonymous tip led them to an arrest of a suspect of the crime.

 

The Iowa City Police Department announced in a news release Tuesday morning that they had made a Monday arrest related to an armed robbery at L&M Mighty Shop at 504 E. Burlington on Dec. 14.

Police say the arrived at the L&M Mighty Shop at 11:40 p.m. for the report of an armed robbery. There, police learned that a male subject wearing a gray sweatshirt, blue jeans, and a ski mask had approached the counter while displaying a knife and ordered the cashier to empty the drawer. According to criminal complaints, the man then left with approximately $200-250 from the cashier and fled north out the store.

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According to police, an anonymous tip phoned in to the Iowa City Area CrimeStoppers resulted in the arrest of a suspect for this crime after a subsequent investigation.

Police say Jonathan T. Bogaard, 21, of 331 S. Johnson Street was taken into custody on Monday and charged with first-degree robbery, assault with a weapon, going armed with intent and fourth-degree theft -- three felonies and a misdemeanor.

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According to criminal complaints, police stopped Bogaard in the area soon after the theft but couldn't tie him to the crime, so he was released. After a CrimeStopper tip tied Bogaard to a photo of the robber, police again contacted him regarding the crime. Bogaard allegedly denied involvement, but it appeared that he was wearing the same lanyard in his right pocket that had been worn by the suspect during the crime, according to the complaint. Police say Bogaard admitted to comitting a theft and three car burglaries within the same week of the robbery.

According to the release, Bogaard is currently being held at the Johnson County Jail with a bond of $100,000, according to the release.


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