Hunter
04/11/21
An Iowa City transient has been arrested after allegedly committing an armed robbery early Saturday morning.
Police were dispatched to the 900 block of Iowa Avenue just before 3:50am for an apartment resident who had just been robbed at gunpoint by two suspects. One was described as a black male, about 5’ 10” wearing a black zip-up hoodie and carrying a small black handgun. The incident occurred less than five minutes before the victim contacted 911.
Officers located a person matching the victim’s description at the intersection of Washington and Lucas streets, and he was detained. He was identified as 21-year-old Marlon Coleman.
Coleman reportedly had items on his person stolen from the victim’s apartment. They included a laptop, IPad, and headphones. A firearm matching the victim’s description was allegedly found on the ground where officers made first contact with Coleman. They took him back to the scene of the crime, where the victim positively identified him as one of the suspects.
A check of the gun discovered it had been stolen.
Coleman had been wanted on warrants stemming from a November car burglary in Iowa City where he allegedly got into a 2013 Mercedes on the 600 block of South Johnson Street and reportedly made off with the victim’s blank checks and gift cards. Coleman was already wanted on previous warrants, and a search of his person found pockets full of change, cash, gift cards, and the victim’s blank checks.
Coleman faces 1st degree Burglary, 1st degree Robbery, and Trafficking in Stolen Weapons used in a Crime for Saturday’s incident, and additional charges of 3rd degree Burglary of a Motor Vehicle and 5th degree Theft for the November incident. If convicted on all charges, Coleman faces over 62 years in prison.