CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (KCRG) – A Cedar Falls man has been arrested and faces charges in connection to a series of robberies at hotels on Tuesday morning and one at a convenience store on Sunday. In a news release, police said 24-year-old Giovonni Davis was arrested Tuesday after the two incidents at the hotels early on Tuesday. Police said the suspect entered the Hilton Garden Inn, at 7213 Nordic Drive, just before 4 a.m., took money from the front desk and exited a rear door. Then just after 4 a.m., law enforcement received a report about a second robbery at the Super 8 Motel, at 7515 Nordic Drive. Police said they saw a man fitting the suspect’s description walking along W. Ridgeway Avenue. When officers tried to contact the man, they say he threw a bat and fled on foot. Police were able to pursue the man and took him into custody. Officers said the man, later identified as Davis, admitted in an interview to having committed the robbery at the Metro Mart, at 103 Franklin Street, on Nov. 27. Davis faces charges of first degree burglary, interference with official acts and two counts of first degree robbery.
MARION, Iowa (KCRG) – The Linn County Supervisors have approved a recount in the Iowa House District 73 race. The unofficial results had Democrat Elizabeth Wilson beating Republican Susie Weinacht by 305 votes, out of 14,000, in the Nov. 8 General Election. District 73 covers part of southeast Cedar Rapids and the north and east portion of Marion. Under Iowa law supervisors are required to approve requests for recount. Recounts are free to candidates if the margin of victory is one percent. In this recount, Weinacht was required to pay $150 to the Iowa Secretary of State because it was outside that margin of victory.
DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC) – Davenport Police are investigating after a 14-year-old boy was hit by a car during a fight near Adams Elementary School. According to a media release, officers responded to the school around 4:09 p.m. Monday to reports of a disturbance with a child hit by a vehicle. Investigators say a juvenile group was fighting outside the school when a man drove the wrong way, crossing Division Street and driving onto the Adams Elementary grass, hitting the 14-year-old. According to arresting documents, police say Levi Vincent-Freund, 29, of Davenport did this because his son was involved in the altercation. The 14-year-old boy was taken to the hospital for minor injuries, police said. Another juvenile was taken by ambulance to the hospital for injuries suffered during the fight. Vincent-Freund has been charged with Assault with a Weapon. Police are still investigating.
A Cedar Rapids man faces several criminal charges after investigation finds he stole money from his insurance clients. Joseph Drahozal, 57, was charged with one count of Forgery (Class D Felony), two counts of Fraudulent Sales Practice under $10,000 (Class D Felony), and one count of Theft in the third degree following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau. The charges stem from an investigation that began in August. According to the criminal complaints filed by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau, while Drahozal was working as an insurance producer, he intentionally took possession of funds intended for the accounts of his insurance clients and put those funds into his personal account for his own use. He also forged his information onto checks belonging to clients to steal funds. Drahozal was placed under arrest and taken to the Linn County Jail on November 28 and was released after posting a $10,000 bond.
