CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids police officer is in guarded condition after being injured while on duty overnight. Officer Tim Davis, 30, was flown to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics where he underwent a three-hour surgery for life-threatening head injuries, according to Police Chief Greg Graham.
Just before midnight on Sunday, Officer Davis and his partner Officer Tracy Brumbaugh responded after a David Scanlon, 20, was robbed in the 1600 block of 1st Ave. NE. Scanlon was treated for injuries to his head and released from St. Lukes Hospital.
Officers were told that three black males wearing black jackets and jeans, possibly juveniles, had displayed a handgun and took an undisclosed amount of money.
Officers Davis and Brumbaugh were working a different project in the area. They were in an unmarked car and in plain clothes, but had their badges/Police ID visibly showing.
As they approached 1st Ave. and 16 St. East, they saw three people matching the suspects' descriptions. When they got out, two of the males turned and ran from Officer Brumbaugh, who ran after them. One of those suspects got away, the other, Robert Lee Watkins III, 14, is in custody.
When officers arrived back at the police car, they found Officer Davis unconscious and the third suspect missing. Officer Davis, a four-year veteran of the CRPD, was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids and then later flown to UIHC in Iowa City.
“Our department will not stop searching until we find these individuals responsible for Officer Davis’ injuries. It is going to be in their best interest to turn themselves into us, because we will not stop,” said Graham. “I ask that any citizen that knows anything about this, please come forward. If this was your son or brother or husband, you would want them held accountable, just as we do. This is a crime not only against Officer Davis, but against our community, as that is what Officer Davis was doing, protecting our community.”
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| Robert Watkins III |
Robert Watkins is charged with Robbery 1st Degree and Interference with Official Acts Causing Serious Injury, although police say they do not believe he was the one that injured Officer Davis. Officers are still searching for two suspects.
Police Chief Greg Graham says Officer Davis was hit in the face and that Officer Davis cannot remember what happened.
Anyone with information should call 1-800-CR-CRIME.
We'll bring you all of the updates as they come in, here on KCRG.com and KCRG-TV9.
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