Hunter
03/24/21
An Iowa City man wanted after allegedly holding up a convenience store and stealing a Lyft vehicle has been arrested.
According to police, the incidents occurred on March 17th. 25-year-old Parker Hawkins of Wayne Avenue allegedly walked into the Muscatine Avenue Kum & Go just before 6 am and handed a clerk a note demanding money. The clerk asked if Hawkins was armed, and he said yes. He reportedly left the store with about $100 cash from the register. The officer who investigated the incident viewed the surveillance footage and identified him due to having an encounter with him the night before.
Less than a half hour later, Hawkins reportedly called for a Lyft to pick him up at the corner of Dodge and Kirkwood. When the driver arrived, Hawkins allegedly walked up to the driver side window and said “I have a weapon, I’m taking your car!” He then reportedly got in the vehicle and drove away. The same officer who responded to the convenience store robbery spoke with the driver, and identified the culprit as Hawkins from the profile picture shown in the Lyft app. The driver said the name of the person requesting the ride identified himself as “Forest,” an alias that police know Hawkins uses.
A warrant was requested for Hawkins’ arrest, and he was booked into the Johnson County Jail Tuesday afternoon. He’s been charged with 1st Degree Burglary and 5th degree Theft for the convenience store incident, and faces 2nd degree Theft, 1st degree Robbery and 1st degree Burglary for the Lyft incident.
If convicted on all counts, Hawkins could be sentenced to over 80 years in prison.