Hunter
01/16/25
A Des Moines man was arrested on a warrant stemming from an alleged robbery of an Iowa City Convenience store last month.
At around 5:25pm on December 29th, staff at the Casey’s on East Benton Street informed officers of a theft. They said 34-year-old Alejandro Hurtado Vela stole a lighter display and was in possession of a handgun during the incident.
A check of surveillance video reportedly showed Hurtado Vela walking into the store from the parking lot, carrying a handgun in his right hand. He allegedly grabbed a lighter display, and dropped the handgun on the floor. When Hurtado Vela reached down to pick the handgun up, a member of the staff tried to get his attention. Hurtado Vela then allegedly turned to the staff with the handgun in his left hand, the lighter display in his right hand, and told the staff member to “shut the eff up” and used a racial slur for black people. He then reportedly left the store and fled in a vehicle.
A warrant was issued on January 7th; Hurtado Vela was arrested Wednesday afternoon and charged with 2nd degree Robbery, a Class C Felony punishable by a prison term of up to ten years if convicted.