A California man is being held in the Carroll County jail after brandishing and firing a handgun during a robbery. At approximately 3:20 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 24000 block of Eagle Avenue, northeast of Manning. Upon arrival, they located a victim, 26-year-old Brokk Beam of Denison. He told authorities he was traveling from Denison to Carroll in a 1990s Allegro Bay motorhome with two other individuals, 38-year-old Crystal Bates of Carroll and 50-year-old Ronnie Wayne Lee of Turlock, Calif. During the drive, Lee produced a pistol and demanded that Beam give him his money and cellphone. After Beam protested, Lee discharged the firearm several times within the motorhome. At that time Beam handed over $189 and the phone, and was then forced out of the coach. He walked to a nearby residence to report the incident. The motorhome was located by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office in Manilla about an hour later, but it was unoccupied. Then, at approximately 6 p.m., Lee and Bates were seen near U.S. Highway 71 and 220th Street in a Lexus sedan bearing Texas temporary tags. A felony stop was performed and the two were transported to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. Following the initial investigation, Lee was arrested and charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a class C felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, a class D felony, and he is listed as a habitual offender. He is being held on a $50,000 bond. The Iowa State Patrol also assisted with the investigation.
