Man who allegedly wrote bad check for hardware items arrested after failing to arrange restitution

Hunter
09/15/21

An Iowa City man who allegedly wrote a bad check for merchandise at the Iowa City Menards this summer has been arrested after failing to arrange restitution.

According to police, 32-year-old Ajay Phillips of South Scott Boulevard purchased over $2100 in power tools and hardware at the store the afternoon of July 11th. Philips wrote a check to a valid account in his name and presented his driver’s license when making the purchase, and left with the merchandise.

Three days later, the check came back for insufficient funds. Phillips allegedly didn’t answer calls or respond to mail from the store, and police became involved.

An officer contacted Phillips on September 4th about the incident, and he agreed to contact the store to make an arrangement to make good on the bad check no later than the next day. After he failed to do so and ceased communication with the officer, a warrant was issued for his arrest on the 7th.

Phillips was booked at the Johnson County Jail Tuesday morning, and charged with 2nd degree Theft. If convicted on the charge, he faces up to five years in prison.