A man was arrested Friday in connection with a series of armed robberies in Lake Elsinore, police said.
William Despain, 45, is suspected of robbing a service station in the 300 block of North Main Street on Oct. 16, once at 12:55 p.m. and then again at 8:55 p.m. Surveillance footage was obtained from the business, the Lake Elsinore Police Department said.
A man matching Despain’s description also allegedly robbed at gunpoint a pizza establishment in the 18200 block of Collier Ave. and Central Ave. on Oct. 17.
Despain reportedly fled one of the locations on a motorcycle.
A week after the pizza establishment robbery, a Lake Elsinore police officer recognized Despain, who was riding a motorcycle, as the wanted suspect.
Despain was detained while information linking him to the robberies was recovered, police said.
Despain was later transported to the Southwest Detention Center, where he is facing three counts of armed robbery.
Anyone with information pertaining to this case is asked to contact Investigator Mike Cornett of the Lake Elsinore Police Department at 951-245-3300.
