Cedar Rapids man charged with brandishing gun during Iowa City robbery

Hunter
10/01/22

Two Cedar Rapids men were arrested Friday night after an alleged armed robbery in Iowa City.

Police responded to the 500 block of South Van Buren Street at 9:10pm on reports of an armed robbery that had just occurred. The victim and a witness stated that a person approached their car brandishing a firearm and pointed it directly at his face. He allegedly threatened to “blow his head off” if he didn’t hand over cash and property.

The victim complied, but was still struck by the man several times with the gun, causing injury. The man then noticed that there was an accomplice involved. The pair fled the scene in a Honda Civic.

Minutes later, authorities located the vehicle heading northbound on I380 and the two suspects were taken into custody. They were identified as 26-year-old Nemetorbor Siaway of River Bluff Drive and 21-year-old Mandy Gonsan of College Park Court Southwest. Siaway admitted under Miranda that he had the firearm, assaulted the victim, stole an undisclosed amount of cash and property, and fled with Gonsan.

The two are each charged with 1st Degree Robbery. With Siaway facing additional charges of Dominion or Control of a Firearm as a Felon. If convicted, Gonsan could get up to 25 years in prison, with Siaway facing an additional five years of imprisonment.

A no-contact order was requested between the two and the victims.