DUBUQUE – An Iowa man who allegedly lie dot police about masked men storming his apartment and stealing thousands of dollars worth of precious coins faces prosecution.
On October 22, 2016, at 5:35 PM, Dubuque police responded to 2340 Central Avenue, Apartment 1, on the report of a robbery that had just occurred. Upon arrival, officers met with the alleged victim, John E. Kirkpatrick, 76, of that address. Kirkpatrick told officers two masked men entered his apartment, displayed a gun, and robbed him of $40,000 worth of precious coins.
During the investigation, Kirkpatrick confessed that he fabricated the report and had actually sold the coins. This admission was corroborated by an investigator who confirmed $24,000 in coins had been sold by Kirkpatrick to The Coin Shop in Dubuque.
Kirkpatrick was issued a summons for filing a False Report to a Public Safety Entity. Since the reported offense of Robbery is a felony, the charge filed against Kirkpatrick is a serious misdemeanor, punishable by a fine between $315 and $1,875, and incarceration up to 1 year.
