The Madison Police Department SWAT team arrested three men in connection with a string of bar robberies in Dane County Monday, but a separate rash of recent violent downtown robberies remains under investigation.
After two taverns were robbed earlier this month, police narrowed their investigation to a residence on the 800 block of Brandie Road. Before entering the residence, police were notified of a third bar robbery early Monday just before two men were dropped off at the home. Officers then executed the search warrant and proceeded to arrest John A. Olson, 36, and his nephew, John J. Olson, 28.
A second search warrant was executed on the 700 block of Herndon Drive, where Daniel W. Rymer, 27, was also arrested. All three men are tentatively charged with armed robbery.
MPD East District Lt. Carl Strasburg said the style of the robberies is uncommon for the Dane County area. Bartenders as well as patrons were forced to the ground with weapons.
This is very violent, very concerning to us and to the safety of our citizens,"" Strasburg said.
""This is just one more example of the outstanding police work and cooperation that goes on every day,"" Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney said. ""When I heard about the arrests made this morning, I was proud to know it was the effort of detectives both from the Sheriff's Office and the Madison Police Department working in cooperation to bring this string of robberies to an end.""
Though the arrests are not related to the numerous armed robberies that have occurred in the downtown area in the last few months, there is a pattern and an increase in robberies in general, according to Madison Police Chief Noble Wray. The police are doing everything they can to reduce the occurrence of robberies, he said.
""We want to make sure that the community is aware, and there was a lot of attention paid to these last two or three, so it's really important people understand that they were apprehended,"" Wray said. ""We are bringing these people to justice.""
