Lang
4/26/25
A Coralville burglary suspect is accused of threatening arriving police with a knife.
49-year-old Robert Jones of the Iowa Lodge on the Coralville Strip was booked into the Johnson County Jail just before 1:15 Friday afternoon. Coralville Police say just after 4:30 on the morning of April 15th Jones used a hammer to break the front glass door of the Iowa Lodge office. He then reportedly reached through the broken window, unlocked the deadbolt and walked around the office. He allegedly took an axe handle and left. The entire incident was captured on video.
Arriving officers say Jones still had the hammer on his hip and the axe handle in his hands. When confronted, he reportedly pulled out a hunting knife with a 4.5 inch blade from a sheath on his back and began waving it at police. At one point he allegedly walked toward the officers while still holding the knife and waving it. He was eventually taken into custody.
Jones was wanted for another burglary in Iowa City. Iowa City Police say security video shows Jones entered the Hyatt Hotel on East Court Street at about 8:00 on the night of April 13th, walked through the kitchen to a service elevator, then took it to an office. There, he reportedly opened a lock box and took several master keys and key cards. Police say he also stole several business cards. The cards were still on his person when he was arrested for the Iowa Lodge burglary.
Jones is charged with 2nd Degree Burglary, 3rd Degree Burglary, Interference With Official Acts Involving a Weapon, Possession of Burglar’s Tools, 4th Degree Criminal Mischief, and 5th Degree Theft. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum of 23 years in prison.