A Crimestoppers tip helped police discover the suspect who allegedly shot and killed an Iowa City landlord in October, police said.

Police charged Charles W.C. Thompson, 17, with first-degree murder last month in the shooting death of landlord John Versypt, 64, at 1958 Broadway, one of the properties Versypt managed.

Thompson pleaded not guilty to the charge on Wednesday.

Crimestoppers, which began locally in June 2007, reportedly rewarded the anonymous tipster $1,000 for the information provided.

Though police described the tip as “essential to the investigation,” Crimestoppers does not reveal the content of its received tips.

According to police, there have been 14 confirmed instances when a Crimestoppers tip led to arrests.

— by Jordan Fries