Vandalism suspects ID’d

By BOB JOHNSON
Register City Editor

Four people have been charged in pellet-gun shootings that resulted in damage to at least 74 vehicles, including 35 at Twin Motors Ford, in and near Iola last week. The four also are suspects in home invasions in Pittsburg, Fort Scott and the Garnett area.
They are Dominick Robinson, 19, and Christopher Lindsey, 18, both of Bronson, and Eric James, 18, and Timothy Rogers, 16, both of Iola.
They were identified, and three were subsequently interviewed, after a call to the Allen County Crimestoppers hotline. The caller gave specific information that led Crimestoppers board members to vote the person a $1,000 reward.
Jim Kilby, chief of police, said warrants were issued today; all were expected to be custody soon. Charges here are for the series of pellet-gun attacks at 35 places in and near Iola that led to damage to windows of the 74 vehicles, as well as peripheral damage to cars’ bodies in some cases. Kilby said damage was likely to exceed $70,000.
After getting the tip on Friday, Iola officers began a telephone dialogue with officers in jurisdictions where the home invasions occurred. That led Iola officers to request and obtain a search warrant for a home in Iola. The search was conducted by Iola and Garnett officers. Two suspects were de-tained and had illuminating conversations with police officers, Kilby said.
Three pellet guns, powered by CO2 cartridges, were seized during searches, he said. “They were lookalikes,” made to resemble real weapons that could have put the suspects in jeopardy if they had suddenly been made visible to investigating officers.
“More information and facts were learned that led to requests for arrest warrants against four individuals,” Kilby said.
All are on probation from previous convictions, Kilby said.
Kilby said, independent of Iola’s arrest warrants for the vehicle damages, warrants would be issued in Garnett, Fort Scott and Pittsburg relative to the home invasions and violence that occurred when they were perpetrated. He expects aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated burglary to become charges listed on those warrants.