(File photo taken by KIWA Staff)
Spencer, Iowa (KTIV-TV) — An Archer man faces multiple felony counts, including attempted murder, in connection with a February incident in which authorities say a Molotov Cocktail was thrown into a northwest Iowa apartment. Two others are also charged in the incident.
Court documents show 26-year-old Walker Hollenbeck of Archer is facing charges of arson and attempted murder.
In those documents, the Spencer Police Department says the charges stem from a call they got on Wednesday, February 11th, in which officers were sent to an apartment in the 700 block of 8th Ave East. The caller had told police that beer bottles with glass were thrown through his window.
After arriving at the Spencer apartment, officers say they found a broken glass window on the west entrance of the apartment. Two bottles were located at the residence, one broken and another unbroken, both labeled “Seagrams”.
According to court documents, the caller also showed officers a burnt spot on the floor from where the bottle came through the window.
Authorities say Hollenbeck had motives toward the caller after learning the caller and Hollenbeck’s girlfriend were in a relationship.
After his arrest, Hollenbeck reportedly told investigators of a previous incident where he is said to have entered the caller’s vehicle in a parking lot and punched and kicked him.
Authorities say Hollenbeck admitted that while with two other individuals, Lonn Whitford Jr. and Diamond James, he made six Molotov Cocktails that he intended to throw at the caller’s residence.
Hollenbeck stated that Whitford went with him behind an alley into the caller’s home to scope out the residence. Whitford reportedly told him he should ride a bike through the alley and throw the Molotov cocktail so he could depart the area easily.
Court documents show Hollenbeck admitted to throwing the first incendiary device, and it did not break or catch fire. He reportedly picked it up and threw it again, then threw a second one through the glass of the caller’s home. Hollenbeck says he saw a small fire inside the residence before James then drove them out of the alley and away from the residence.
The fire caused damage to the apartment, but no fatalities were reported.
The charges
Walker Hollenbeck
Hollenbeck was charged with four counts of attempted murder and one count of first-degree arson. Hollenbeck has not entered a plea for these charges as of Wednesday, June 24th. His arraignment is set for Monday, July 6th, at 9:30 a.m.
Lonn Whitford Jr.
Whitford was charged with aiding and abetting first-degree arson. The 43-year-old man has pleaded not guilty and is expected back in court for a pretrial conference on Tuesday, July 14th, at 9:30 a.m.
Diamond Lynn James
James was charged with aiding and abetting first-degree arson. The 29-year-old has pleaded not guilty and is expected back in court on Tuesday, August 11th.
