Hotel evacuated, venues locked down during search for robbery suspect

Adventureland, Prairie Meadows and Spectators Bar and Grill temporarily shut down Friday following an armed robbery.Altoona police responded to reports of a holdup at Spectators around 7:30 a.m.The restaurant closed and Adventureland and Prairie Meadows were placed on lockdown while tactical teams swept the area for the suspect.All three locations reopened after police confirmed they were safe. No arrests were reported.Guests at Adventureland Inn, which is attached to Spectators, said they were forced to evacuate as the manhunt took place."We were getting ready for the day and an officer knocked on the door and said, 'Police. Get out. We're evacuating everybody,'" Iowa City resident Valerie Larew said.Police said since witnesses reported the suspect ran instead of driving away, they locked down nearby Prairie Meadows and the amusement park.Police called the robbery an isolated incident and said none of the other nearby businesses were hit.

Adventureland, Prairie Meadows and Spectators Bar and Grill temporarily shut down Friday following an armed robbery.

Altoona police responded to reports of a holdup at Spectators around 7:30 a.m.


The restaurant closed and Adventureland and Prairie Meadows were placed on lockdown while tactical teams swept the area for the suspect.

All three locations reopened after police confirmed they were safe. No arrests were reported.

Guests at Adventureland Inn, which is attached to Spectators, said they were forced to evacuate as the manhunt took place.

"We were getting ready for the day and an officer knocked on the door and said, 'Police. Get out. We're evacuating everybody,'" Iowa City resident Valerie Larew said.

Police said since witnesses reported the suspect ran instead of driving away, they locked down nearby Prairie Meadows and the amusement park.

Police called the robbery an isolated incident and said none of the other nearby businesses were hit.