Lang
8/28/21
A chronic dine-and-dasher has been arrested by Iowa City Police.
26-year-old Amos Lavela is accused of skipping out on two different tabs at The Vine on Prentiss Street within the span of 18 hours. The first was a bill for $18 on August 11th just after 7:15pm. The second was for $21 on August 12th just after 12:45pm.
When asked if he knew the suspect, the manager at the Vine told investigators “it was Amos”. He said he knew Lavela from a previous dine-and-dash at The Airliner. The manager added that several Iowa City restaurant owners message each other with pictures and names of suspects when someone walks out on a tab, and they were all familiar with Lavela.
Police were able to use three photos provided from the Vine’s security footage to identify Lavela and take him into custody Thursday afternoon. He’s charged with two counts of 5th Degree Theft.
Lavela, a transient, has a history of shoplifting food and beverages from the Waterfront Hy-Vee and the West Burlington Street Kum & Go, among other thefts.