WATERLOO – Five months after a pair of robberies near downtown Waterloo, investigators announce five teenagers have been arrested and charged for their roles.

Captain Tim Pillack said Wednesday morning the four males and a female between the ages of 16 and 19 are facing first-degree robbery charges in the December robberies of Elite Liquor at 1309 Lafayette Street.

Investigators say, on December 8th, 2009, Jacquiere C. Burnside and Ladarius D. Hawthrone, both now 16 and from Waterloo, went into Elite Liquor, displayed weapons and demanded money. Police say Hawthorne fired a .22 caliber rifle and that the males got away with money before Burnside drove the two off in a vehicle that had been reported stolen. No one was hurt in the robbery.

Two weeks later, on December 22, police say Burnside returned to Elite Liquor but with more people. The criminal complaint states two males, Burnside and Telly L. Nix, 19, of Waterloo, walked into the store, each with a gun. Waterloo Police say Nix fired a .22 handgun inside the business. As with the earlier robbery, no one was injured as investigators say Burnside and Nix left with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Waterloo Police also arrested two others for their roles in the December 22 robbery. Adrian R. Walker, 17, of Waterloo was a lookout for the crime and Aimee M. Bowers, 18, of Evansdale drove the car after the robbery.

Pillack said his department needed plenty of hours to talk with witnesses and suspects before making the arrests, which he said happened Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.

“It’s always a concern with violent crime but, with juveniles involved, you wonder why they are involved in these types of activities,” said Pillack. “You have 16, 17 year olds, they are acting like adults in these situations and need to be dealt with.”

Pillack also said all weapons used in the robberies have been recovered and that he is pleased they “got those four guns off the street”.

The liquor store, located just five blocks east of the Waterloo Police Station, is now called New Star Liquor. Ownership at the store did not want to talk publically but said they purchased the store “in the last month” and changed the name.

As the one person charged for his role in both robberies, Burnside is being held in the Black Hawk County Jail on a $150,000 cash bond. Investigators say all five people involved in the two robberies are charged with first-degree robbery.