Hunter
11/09/23
The alleged victim of a reported armed robbery that ended up being unfounded has been arrested for providing a false report.
Police responded to a reported armed robbery in the area of Washington and Dubuque streets at approximately 11:50pm Saturday. The reporting party, 22-year-old Jack Steen of North Barrington Illinois, said he went to the Dubuque Street Ramp and was robbed of his phone and wallet by three males armed with a handgun. A University of Iowa Hawk Alert was issued related to the incident, the area was flooded with officers who spent time patting down possible suspects for weapons.
Police now say Steen’s stories kept changing and did not line up with video footage from the area. He allegedly had bloodshot watery eyes, slurred speech, had the odor of ingested alcohol, and admitted that he was very intoxicated. Steen was also wearing bar wrist bands.
On Sunday, officers recovered Steen’s phone and wallet in a bar. He later reportedly admitted in an interview that he completely fabricated the robbery story because he was intoxicated and lost his phone and wallet.
A warrant was issued for Steen’s arrest, and he was booked at the Johnson County Jail Wednesday morning. He’s been charged with False Report of an Indictable Offense to a Public Entity and Public Intoxication. If convicted on both counts, he could be sentenced to up to 13 months in jail.
