CEDAR RAPIDS – An Iowa woman got way more than she bargained fro after she met up with a man via Facebook, and it took half a dozen Illinois state troopers to apprehend the culprit after he bound her and stole her Buick.
Cedar Rapids Police officers responded to a residence in northwest Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, June 23 at 6:57 AM to speak with a 41-year old female about an alleged robbery. The victim told investigators she had recently met an individual named Christopher F. Bullins, age 43, through Facebook.
On June 23 at approximately 2:30 AM, Bullins was at the victim’s house where he displayed a handgun and pointed it at the victim while demanding money. Bullins also stole several items from the victim, including her cellular phone. The victim reported Bullins then took her to the basement, placed handcuffs on her, and tied several items of clothing around her.
Just prior to contacting police, the victim was able to free herself, walk outside, and request help from a person in the neighborhood. Officers arrived shortly thereafter and determined the victim’s vehicle, a 2018 Buick Encore, had been stolen.
The victim was transported to UnityPoint-St. Luke’s Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained from being restrained.
An attempt to locate on the stolen vehicle was disseminated to law enforcement nationwide. The vehicle was located on U.S. Interstate 74 west of Galesburg, Illinois shortly after 10 a.m. Six Illinois State Patrol troopers initiated a traffic stop and took the suspect into custody without incident for several valid nationwide warrants through multiple states. A handgun was recovered from the vehicle.
The Cedar Rapids Police Department charged Bullins with robbery-1st degree, theft-1st degree, assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, false imprisonment, and obstruction of emergency communication.
