Madison police arrested a man Sunday matching the description of the suspect in multiple robberies in the downtown area who has been dubbed the ""parka bandit.""
According to a Madison Police Department press release, Justin M. Simpson, 20, has confessed to involvement in three recent armed robberies.
Simpson was arrested after an officer saw him walking near the intersection of Park Street and Wingra Street around 1:30 p.m. Simpson was wearing a black, puffy parka similar to the jacket described by multiple witnesses to robberies.
The officer who found Simpson was part of a dragnet set up by MPD in hopes of locating the parka bandit.
Simpson was searched, and officers found a facsimile handgun and heroin. Simpson was arrested for drug possession and admitted to three of the robberies during questioning.
The robberies Simpson admitted to include two at the East Washington Avenue Shell gas station and one this past weekend at the Pinkus McBride Market on Hamilton Street.
According to The Capital Times, a search warrant issued Monday by Dane County Circuit Court Judge John Markson has allowed police to search through calls on a mobile phone found on Simpson when he was taken into custody. By examining these calls, police hope to determine whether there are others involved in the robberies.
Police said in a statement the investigation is ongoing and detectives are still continuing to question Simpson on possible involvement in the nearly 20 armed robberies downtown in the past month.
