Police: Co-Defendant in College Green Area Theft, Burglary Arrested

Iowa City Police say they have arrested the co-defendant mentioned in yesterday's police complaints regarding a theft and burglary in the College Green Park area.

Police say they arrested Taylin Anderson, 18, of Iowa City and charged him for his involvement in crimes as well. The police complaints for Anderson also included more details on the theft and burglaries allegedly committed by him and Samuel Buatti, 18, of Iowa City in June.

On June 16, police say that a man reported a theft in the early morning hours. He said he had fallen asleep in College Green Park on the way home, and was awoken at 2:00 a.m. to the sensation of someone going through his pockets. In this police complaint, the man told police that he chased after suspects but was unable to catch them.

Buatti and Anderson allegedly admitted to nearby witnesses that they had stolen the items, displaying them to the witness and going through the wallet. According to the complaint, Buatti and Anderson and the witness later went searching for the victim but could not find him.

During a later search by police, they allegedly discovered the wallet in Buatti's backpack, according to police complaints.

Buatti and Anderson, and two unnamed co-defendants, allegedly used the stolen credit card from that man and another stolen credit card to buy candy, gas and other items at Hy-Vee, Wal-Mart and the Den for a total of $476.71. All four co-defendants allegedly admitted that they knew the credit cards were stolen.

The second incident occurred nine days later, at 321 N. Johnson Street. Police say Anderson was at a party at an apartment below an apartment that was reportedly burglarized that same night. Buatti and Anderson allegedly entered the apartment through an unlocked door after scaling the balcony.

A witness allegedly saw the two in the apartment. Another witness allegedly told police that they had seen Buatti with a silver Mac Book Pro and Anderson stealing a flat screen television. Buatti and his Anderson allegedly made comments to other witnesses acknowledging that they had committed the crime, according to the complaint.

A search of an apartment later by police revealed a silver Mac Book pro under the mattress. The search also revealed iPods, a camera, and a television, according to the complaint. The value of the items was listed at $2,300.

Anderson was charged with second-degree theft, a Class D felony; third-degree burglary, a Class D felony; fourth-degree theft, a serious misdemeanor; first-degree burglary, a Class C felony; unauthorized use of a credit card, an aggravated misdemeanor; and disorderly house, a simple misdemeanor.

Anderson is in the Johnson County Jail on $31,000 bond.