Hunter
10/27/20
Cedar Rapids police have arrested three men and recovered two stolen handguns over the weekend.
According to a release from the Department, officers attempted to stop a vehicle that had driven through a stop sign late Saturday afternoon at 11th Street and 22nd Avenue Southwest. During the stop, a passenger got out of the front seat and began running. After a short pursuit, officers were able to apprehend the man in the backyard of a nearby residence. He was identified as 18-year-old Donta Payne Underwood.
Police say Underwood had a handgun in his possession that had been reported stolen from an unlocked vehicle parked on Bezdek Drive Northwest back on June 10th. A quantity of marijuana was also discovered. He was charged with two counts of Carrying Concealed Weapons, Trafficking in Stolen Weapons, marijuana possession, and Interference with Official Acts with a Firearm.
While the pursuit of Underwood was underway, the suspect vehicle left the scene. It was located minutes later in the 1100 block of 21st Avenue Southwest. The driver was identified as 20-year-old Jentry Chambers. A magazine with bullets and marijuana were found in his possession. A search of the vehicle found an AR-15 rifle uncased in the trunk with a magazine inserted.
In a subsequent interview, Chambers admitted to discarding a handgun in an alley. It was recovered in the 1100 block of 21st Avenue Southwest, and was reported stolen on October 12th from an unlocked vehicle parked on 34th Street Northeast.
Chambers faces a litany of charges, including marijuana possession, Trafficking in Stolen Weapons, Carrying Weapons, Conveyance of a loaded gun, Eluding, and failure to obey a Traffic device.
Another passenger, identified as 18-year-old Torrence Warr, was charged with Trafficking in Stolen Weapons and Carrying Weapons.
All three were taken to the Linn County Jail.