Iowa City Police Department releases video of park interaction following bank robbery

Tuesday, July 26, 2016 - 3:37pm
Contact: 
Scott Gaarde
Police

On July 20, 2016, at 1:53 p.m., the Iowa City Police Department (ICPD) responded to First American Bank, located at 640 Highway 1 West in Iowa City, for a report of an armed robbery. While officers were checking the area for the armed suspect, they interacted with a man in Benton Hill Park who fit the original description of the robber police received from dispatch.

This interaction has generated extensive media coverage. In order to make the community aware of the manner in which this interaction occurred, the Iowa City Police Department has released the video from two body worn...

Harvest Party to be held in Wetherby Park Edible Forest

Monday, July 25, 2016 - 4:07pm
Contact: 
Joyce Carroll
Parks and Recreation

Backyard Abundance, a local nonprofit group that helps people create environmentally friendly landscapes, will host a “Smoothie and Harvest Party” later this month that will offer free smoothies and snacks made with fruits harvested from the Wetherby Park Edible Forest. Guests can learn about the edible forest while touring the gardens and harvesting cherries, aronia berries and culinary herbs, watch a demonstration on how to make compost tea, view a worm composting bin that will be on display and take worms home to start their own composting system.

The event, which is being held...

Iowa City Police investigate armed robberies

Monday, July 25, 2016 - 9:22am
Contact: 
Scott Gaarde
Communications

The Iowa City Police Department is investigating two armed robberies that happened at restaurants Saturday and Monday.

The first happened around 7:15 a.m., Sat. July 23, 2016 at Culvers, located at 710 Highway 1 west. The victim told police he was taking out the trash when the suspect showed a gun and demanded money. The victim was able to lock himself in an office. However, the suspect ran away with an undisclosed amount of money.

Police say the suspect is described as a black man, wearing a black hoodie and black shorts.

The second incident happened around 1:18 a.m., Mon...

Community invited to celebrate National Night Out

Friday, July 22, 2016 - 10:49am
Police
The community is invited to enjoy live music, free food and visits by Herky the Hawk and McGruff the Crime Dog as Iowa City celebrates National Night Out with four parties.

National Night Out is set for Tues. Aug. 2, 2016, and is a nationwide effort to heighten crime and drug prevention, build partnerships between neighborhoods and police and send a message that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back against crime.

All are welcome to attend the main, City wide event that will happen from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Wetherby Park, located at 2400 Taylor Drive. Families can enjoy the...

Rummage in the Ramp begins Saturday; east-side donation pick-up and document shredding service offered in 2016

Friday, July 22, 2016 - 10:44am
Contact: 
Jennifer Jordan
Communications
Rummage in the Ramp begins this Saturday, July 23, 2016 at 4 p.m. Now in its tenth year, the City’s annual mega-recycling event encourages students and residents who are moving, downsizing or just cleaning out the basement to donate rather than throw away items they no longer want. The donated items are then tagged at bargain prices and offered for sale to the public during this nine-day garage sale, with proceeds divided among the local nonprofit organizations that help staff it.

It’s a pinnacle event in the local reduce / reuse / recycle / repurpose / upcycle way of thinking, and one in...

Pheasant Hill Park public meeting scheduled

Thursday, July 21, 2016 - 12:30pm
Contact: 
Juli Seydell Johnson
Parks and Forestry

The City of Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department wants to hear input from the public on ideas for a new playground at Pheasant Hill Park, 2649 Concord Circle. From 5 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 11, 2016, Parks and Recreation staff will host a public meeting at the Pheasant Hill park shelter to present several design options for friends and neighbors of the park to consider. For those who can't make it to the meeting but still want to weigh in, Parks and Recreation staff will post final design considerations on a Facebook event page from August 3-12 and collect feedback from the...

Iowa City Police Department to host “Do You See Me Now?” challenge with local youth

Thursday, July 21, 2016 - 7:41am
Contact: 
Scott Gaarde
Police
Local junior high and high school youths who are participating in the Youth Summer Fun program with the Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department will face members of the Iowa City Police Department (ICPD) in a little friendly basketball and soccer challenge later this month as the ICPD hosts its first annual “Do You See Me...

Iowa City Police asking for help locating robbery suspect

Wednesday, July 20, 2016 - 4:26pm
Contact: 
Scott Gaarde
Police

The Iowa City Police Department is asking for the public's help in finding the suspect in an alleged bank robbery.

On July 20, 2016 at ap proximately 1:53 p.m. officers responded to First American Bank, located at 640 Highway 1 West in Iowa City, for a report of an armed robbery. Officers flooded the area looking for a black male, dressed in black that had fled the bank on foot.

The suspect was not located. Anyone with information is asked to contact the police department immediately.

Iowa City Area CrimeStoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading...

Mercer Park Pool to close temporarily in August; schedules announced for other City pools

Wednesday, July 20, 2016 - 2:39pm
Contact: 
Juli Seydell Johnson
Parks and Recreation

Mercer Park Pool at 2701 Bradford Drive will be closed from Monday, August 1, 2016 through Friday, August 26, 2016 for cleaning and minor repair work. During this time, the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center Pool at 220 S. Gilbert Street and City Park Pool at 200 Park Road will operate on the following schedule:

Robert A. Lee Recreation Center Pool

Monday - Friday 6:15 - 9 a.m. Lap Swim, all lanes 8 - 8:45 a.m. Aquacise Class, 2 lanes 9 - 10 a.m. Senior Swim, 3 lanes 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. AFAP Exercise Class, 2 lanes 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Lap Swim...

Iowa City Police Department Chaplains attend international conference and training

Tuesday, July 19, 2016 - 2:47pm
Police
Chaplains with the Iowa City Police Department recently attended an international conference and training.

Chaplains Mel Schlachter, David Arnold and Chaplain Liaison Steve Fortmann took part in the 43rd Annual Training Seminar as part of the International Conference of Police Chaplains in Alburquerque, NM, July 11 - 15, 2016.

Participants had the option to take part in Basic, Enrichment, Advanced and Liaison Officer Training among other class offerings ranging from responding to a crisis to concerns of police survivors.

The seminar included an annual memorial service that...

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