Stuart Subway robbery suspect arrested

STUART - A West Des Moines man is in custody after a robbery at a Stuart restaurant Wednesday. Actions of an employee and relationships between local and regional law enforcement agencies are credited for the quick response and arrest.

Kevin C. Krouse Jr., 33, was taken into custody 11:02 p.m. Wednesday on charges of robbery, second degree, a forcible felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

At approximately 9:13 p.m. a 911 call was received by Guthrie County Communications from a 17-year-old employee of Subway in Stuart, who said the store had just been robbed.

According to Stuart Police, officers from Stuart Police Department, and deputies from Adair and Guthrie counties sheriff’s offices were on-scene within three minutes of the call.

The juvenile employee told officers a man had entered the store, walked behind the counter and approached her. He demanded money from the cash register while keeping his hand in his pocket, making the employee fearful that he may have a weapon. The employee complied with the man’s demands after being told by him to hurry up multiple times. The employee was able to provide a description of the man, including his clothing.

The man then left the store with the money from the register, got into an vehicle and went in the direction of Interstate 80.

Approximately 20 minutes later, a Dallas County deputy stopped a vehicle matching the description, a 2025 Dodge Durango, near mile marker 116 of I80 eastbound. They advised the driver also matched the description given.

Law enforcement obtained video surveillance and confirmed the clothing description and physical attributes of the driver, later identified as Krouse.

Deputies observed a sweatshirt in plain view in the Durango that appeared to be similar as the one worn by the male. They were able to positively match a logo on Krouse’s pants to those seen on the video from the time of the store robbery.

A stack of money was found shoved along the driver’s seat, consistent to the amount reported taken from Subway. A plastic bag with the corner ripped off containing a clear/brown residue was also found in the car.

“This incident highlights how strong working relationships between local and regional law enforcement agencies contribute to successful outcomes. The swift communication and cooperation between the Stuart Police Department, Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, Adair County Sheriff’s Office, Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, Guthrie County Communications and surrounding agencies played a critical role in resolving this incident quickly,” Stuart Police Chief David Reha said. “Additionally, the calm actions and courage of the employee, who provided officers with important details immediately following the robbery, were instrumental in bringing this case to a rapid resolution.”

Krouse was transported to the Adair County Jail and held without bond pending his initial court appearance.