News : Vinton man arrested in Evansdale store charged with claim of a fake robbery

On Sunday, a 19-year-old Vinton man was arrested for allegedly reporting a fake robbery at the Evansdale Kwik Star. This led to an evacuation of the store over the weekend.

Dakota Voyle Mathews, was arrested on Sunday for the false report to law enforcement.

The Waterloo Courier reported that "according to court records, Mathews left his house with friends on Saturday and failed to return home for Easter on Sunday. His mother had been tracking his whereabouts and noticed he was in Indiana and Illinois. Mathews allegedly told his mother he had been robbed, held hostage at gunpoint and his car was stolen.

Police found the car stopped at the Kwik Star on West Gilbert Drive in Evansdale, and officers from three agencies evacuated the store anticipating a hostage situation, according to court records.

Mathews was found hiding in the bathroom. His friends were in the car and said he made up the story because he was upset about being in trouble with his parents, court records state.

Officers also discovered THC vapes in the bathroom."

Court records show that four charges were filed in Blackhawk County and are as follows:

1 count person under 21 using tobacco/vapor product 1st offense, a civil penalty

1 count of possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor

1 count of possession of controlled substance, marijuana 1st offense, a serious misdemeanor

1 count false reports to public safety entities, a Class D Felony.

On Monday, he was released from jail.