Two men arrested, linked to numerous robberies
WICHITA — Two Wichita men have been arrested in connection with a string of robberies over the past week — including four Monday night.
The men were arrested at about 11:30 p.m. in the 400 block of North New York by two officers who recognized one of them as matching a suspect description in more than one of the robberies, Lt. Doug Nolte said.
The men tried to flee in a white pickup, but the officers were able to get the vehicle stopped. Officer Javier Guete held the driver at gunpoint, Nolte said, while Officer Rod Miller pursued and caught the second suspect, who attempted to flee.
Money from the most recent robbery — at the Donut Whole, 1720 E. Douglas, only minutes earlier — was found in the pickup, Nolte said.
After questioning, the 38-year-old man who tried to run was booked into jail on suspicion of nine robberies that occurred between March 30 and April 4. The 47-year-old driver was booked on seven robbery counts.
The Donut Whole was hit twice during the crime spree — on March 30 and then again on Monday. The same clerk was working at the Donut Whole each time, Nolte said.
When one of the suspects came in he said, "It's me. I'm sorry to do this to you again."
Other robberies linked to one or both of the arrested suspects:
March 31: Taco Tico, 2051 S. Seneca
March 31: Family Video, 1759 S. Hillside
April 3: Johnson's General Store, 1003 S. Seneca
April 3: QuikTrip, 7991 E. 37th St. North
April 4: Motor Mouth Wireless, 4525 E. Central
April 4: Walgreens, 3150 S. Seneca
April 4: Phillips 66, 248 S. Hillside
Reviewing surveillance video from Johnson's General Store, Detective Kevin Brown recognized the man who committed the robbery. He began gathering information on other potential suspects and briefed Guete and Miller late Monday afternoon, Nolte said.
Authorities had reason to believe one of the suspects was staying in the 400 block of North New York, and as news of the robberies was broadcast, the officers would cruise the area to see if they had returned.
When the pickup was spotted with the two men in it only minutes after the robbery nearby, Nolte said, the officers moved quickly.
"Officers Miller and Guete should be credited for fine police work, as well as Det. Brown for coming up with the information" that put them in position for the arrests, Nolte said.
This story was originally published April 5, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Two men arrested, linked to numerous robberies."