Check Cashing Business Robbed in Cedar Rapids

By Jeff Raasch, Reporter

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By Kara Kelly

Story Created: Nov 18, 2011 at 11:58 AM CDT

Story Updated: Nov 18, 2011 at 3:32 PM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Two men robbed a Cedar Rapids check-cashing business in broad daylight Friday.

Police Lt. Cory McGarvey confirmed the armed robbery occurred around 10:10 a.m. at Check ‘N Go, 124 Collins Rd. NE, Suite E. No one was injured.

Little Caesars employee Nic Meyers, 20, of Cedar Rapids, said a woman who works at Check ‘N Go came pounding on their door and said her business had been robbed. She told them one of the suspects had a handgun and the other had a knife.

Meyers said he and his general manager chased after the two men, who went north across the street toward some apartment buildings, but they eventually lost sight of them.

“I got trapped behind a fence, and I saw them in the parking lot,” Meyers said. “That’s when they had stopped, I’m guessing because they ran out of breath. I said stop!”

Meyers said he cut back through a yard to get around the fence, but by the time he got back to where the suspects were, they were gone.

At least five police cars were in the area of an apartment complex near Ridge Drive and Southview Drive in Marion soon thereafter, apparently looking for suspects.

According to Meyers, one suspect was wearing a black hooded sweat shirt, blue jeans and white Nike shoes. The other suspect had on a blue hooded sweat shirt, black sweat pants and black shoes. He said both men had their hoods up and could not determine what race they were.

The descriptions have not been confirmed by police. Investigators were still at the business at 11:25 a.m.

Meyers said he and his general manager did not hesitate to chase after the suspects. He credited his military background for his response.

“It was more adrenaline at that time than it was scary,” Meyers said.