Hunter
02/25/20
An Iowa City man who allegedly shoplifted items from a Coral Ridge Mall store because he thought he could get away with it was found with drugs when apprehended.
Police reports indicate that 21-year-old Cortez Banks of South Dodge Street was observed by loss prevention personnel at Scheels Monday at 4:49pm taking an Adidas shirt and white Adidas sweatpants and leaving the store without any attempt to pay for them. Banks allegedly fled the scene when loss prevention tried to stop him.
Police were called to the scene, and they located Banks on Holiday Road. When they approached him, Banks reportedly fled into North Ridge Park. An officer told Banks to put his hands up and stop walking towards him, but he continued. Banks is accused of then dropping his arms to his waist and police say he had to be instructed again to raise his arms.
A subsequent search turned up the items allegedly stolen from Scheels, as well as a bag of a leafy green substance that Banks reportedly admitted was marijuana.
Banks allegedly said he took the items from Scheels because he thought he could get away with it.
He was arrested and charged with 5th degree theft, interference with official acts, and marijuana possession. If convicted on all counts, Banks could be sentenced to up to 14 months in jail.