Lang
6/1/20
More information has been released regarding looting in Coralville Sunday night and the ensuing standoff.
Coralville Police first responded to a looting incident at Walmart on Commerce Drive just after 10pm Sunday. 23-year-old Tessa Snyder of Field Stone Place SW in Cedar Rapids was found inside the store with a tire iron up her sleeve. She was charged with 1st Degree Burglary, a Class B felony punishable by a maximum of 25 years in prison.
18-year-old Kendal Thompson of 17th Street in Coralville is charged with 3rd Degree Burglary after he was found inside the store with merchandise in his pockets. He faces a maximum prison sentence of five years, if convicted.
20-year-old Joel Seals of 1st Avenue in Iowa City faces an Attempted 3rd Degree Burglary charge after police saw him fleeing from the store. Witnesses said Seals had tried to steal merchandise before police arrived. If convicted, he faces a maximum of two years behind bars.
A vehicle fled the scene and allegedly almost ran an officer over. A brief chase ensued, ending with multiple police cars boxing the vehicle in near Target. The driver, 29-year-old Darlesha Kearney of 2nd Street in Marion, is charged with Eluding and Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations. If convicted, she faces a maximum of six years in prison.
Kearney’s passenger, 28-year-old Cashmere Wallace of 22nd Avenue in Cedar Rapids, allegedly leapt from the vehicle and confronted officers, screaming and refusing to comply with commands. He was tasered and taken into custody. Marijuana and a firearm with a bullet in the chamber were found in his purse. Wallace has multiple felony convictions in Illinois, and was charged with Interference with Official Acts, Dominion or Control of a Firearm as a Felon and Possession of a Controlled Substance – 3rd or Subsequent Offense. If convicted, he faces a maximum of over five years in prison.
Tensions continued after the initial Walmart arrests. Around 11pm 38-year-old Nichole Sanders of Tama was arrested after allegedly punching a police officer. It took multiple officers to subdue her, and she was charged with Assault on Persons in Certain Occupation, Rioting, and Interference with Official Acts Causing Bodily Injury. If convicted, she faces up to four years in prison.
Just after midnight 26-year-old Claudell Shepherd of the Pheasant Ridge Apartments was taken into custody for Trespassing after allegedly ignoring commands to leave the mall parking lot.
At 12:30am 19-year-old Mashaun Clark Vandenburg of 18th Avenue in Coralville was throwing projectiles at law enforcement, and later punched an officer repeatedly, leading to his arrest on charges of Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations and Rioting. He faces a maximum of three years in prison, if convicted.
Just before 1am 22-year-old Kobe Brown of Anamosa was arrested for 3rd Degree Criminal Mischief, Rioting and Interference with Judicial Process after allegedly throwing rocks at officers and using furniture to break windows at the SpringHill Suites on 25th Avenue. He fled after being tasered, but was caught a short time later. If convicted, Brown faces a maximum of six years in prison.
A social media post circulated Sunday afternoon encouraged people to gather at the mall at 10:30pm Sunday with a goal of overwhelming law enforcement and looting the stores, apparently in an attempt to take advantage of nationwide protests over Floyd’s killing.