Lang
8/23/23
An Iowa City robbery suspect faces new charges after police say he broke into multiple vehicles in the same parking lot before an alleged carjacking attempt.
Iowa City Police were called to the Travelodge on North Dodge Street just after 9:30 Saturday night. The alleged victim reported 19-year-old Justin Pittman of Columbia, South Carolina had approached her in the parking lot and demanded her car keys. He allegedly claimed to be armed with a gun.
The woman says she refused and started walking away. Police say Pittman later told them he approached the woman and waited until the parking lot was empty, but he denied trying to rob the woman.
When officers tried to make contact with Pittman, he allegedly ran away. Pittman was eventually captured, but not before one officer suffered an injury that will require surgery.
Police say Pittman initially gave them a fake name, and that a marijuana gummy was found on his person after his arrest.
Arrest records now indicate Pittman burglarized multiple vehicles in the same Travelodge parking lot earlier in the night. Just after 6:30pm, he allegedly threw a rock at the window of a locked car, but it didn’t break. Police say two hours later he rummaged through two other unlocked cars and tried using a multi tool to open the lock of another vehicle, but he was unsuccessful. The tool was left in the damaged locking mechanism.
The car burglaries were reportedly captured on security video.
Charges against Pittman now include 2nd Degree Robbery, 1st Degree Harassment, Interference With Official Acts Causing Bodily Injury, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Providing False Identity Information, 4th Degree Criminal Mischief and two counts each of 3rd Degree Burglary of a Motor Vehicle and Attempted 3rd Degree Burglary of a Motor Vehicle.
If convicted on all charges, Pittman faces a maximum of over 21 years in prison.