SPRINGFIELD – A man accused of robbing three convenience stores at gunpoint in a one-hour period was arrested over the weekend.
Willie Duke, 31, of Springfield, was arrested Sunday morning and charged with three counts of armed robbery with a firearm while masked and failure to stop for police, said Ryan Walsh, a spokesman for the police
The string of armed robberies began at 1 p.m. Saturday, and in each case the suspect threatened an employee with a gun and fled with cash, Walsh said.
The robberies took place at three stores located within a radius of about a mile on Walnut Street, St. James Avenue and State Street. The amount of money stolen was not disclosed, he said.
Detectives working with people at the Real-Time Analysis Center reviewed dash cam footage and other evidence from the crimes and were able to identify a suspect and the vehicle used in all three crimes. Around 7:30 a.m. Sunday, the car was spotted at a gas station on Hancock Street, he said.
Police stopped the car and arrested Duke on Ashley Street after he fled the car and tried to run from them, Walsh said.