Hunter
10/04/22
An Iowa City man who was accused of taking items from in front of the Waterfront Drive HyVee after hours last week has now been charged after reportedly stealing a bike from the Campus Wellness and Recreation Center.
Police responded to the campus Monday around 10:40 am after a witness reported seeing a grey Trek bike being stolen from the Center ten minutes earlier while on his walk to the library. The man described the suspect as a short black male with a long grey winter coat and a short beard. He allegedly used a pair of pliers to cut the cord of the locked bike.
An officer then saw 30-year-old Willie Collins, wearing a long grey winter coat, riding a grey Trek southbound on Riverside Drive shortly afterwards. Collins was placed in custody for the investigation. He allegedly had wire cutters in his pocket, and claimed that he bought the bike from a man named Thomas for $40.
The victim of the reported theft told police that he did not give Collins permission to use or take his bike and no sale had transpired.
Collins was charged with 4th degree theft, a serious misdemeanor punishable by a sentence of up to a year in jail if convicted.
Last Wednesday, Collins was arrested after allegedly telling a man to put his hands behind his back a little before 12:30 am Wednesday in front of the Waterfront Drive HyVee. Collins reportedly left the scene briefly but returned and attempted to try to steal items from the reporting party’s vehicle.
Collins was located behind the store with a flower pot and pumpkin that he allegedly took from the front of the store. A toy gun was found in his possession as well. He was charged with illegal possession of a toy gun and 5th degree Theft in that instance and faces up to 60 days in jail if convicted on both counts.