Investigators have linked a botched armored car robbery in Waterloo last month to a local restaurant fire that occurred six days earlier.

On Monday, authorities charged 29-year-old Kevin Cruz Soliveras of Evansdale with second-degree arson for his alleged role in the March 5 fire that gutted The Wishbone, 201 W. 18th St. According to police, video evidence shows Cruz and another man intentionally set the fire after breaking into the restaurant in an attempt to steal money.

A police officer discovered smoke coming from the building around 5:30 AM. The fire caused extensive damage to the building.

Waterloo police said Cruz is currently serving time in the Black Hawk County Jail on charges connected to other recent area crimes, including the attempted robbery of an armored vehicle outside a Waterloo bank on March 11. That incident involved a shootout with security guards.

Court records indicate Cruz and a second suspect were injured when they were shot by security guards. A third suspect, 37-year-old Bryce Miller of La Porte City, died of the injuries he suffered in the shootout.

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