Cedar Falls Police Charge Three In Botched Cell Phone Sale

Cedar Falls police have charged three people in connection with a botched cell phone sale that resulted in shots being fired at a city park.

Officers were dispatched to Birdsall Memorial Park around 5 PM Sunday to investigate a report from a man that someone had taken his cell phone. Police said 24-year-old Santiago Perez told officers that he was trying sell an IPhone on Facebook Marketplace, but the potential buyer took the phone and drove off.

According to police, Perez chased the vehicle in his car to the Birdsall Park parking lot. Authorities said Perez fired his gun at the suspect vehicle when it didn't stop. There were three people inside the suspect vehicle, a man and his wife and the couple's 18-month-old son. No one was injured.

Officials charged Perez with intimidation with a dangerous weapon and child endangerment. Authorities also charged 21-year-old Jaida Welton of Cedar Falls and a 16-year-old female juvenile with fourth-degree theft.