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Karen Scullin ReportingSalt Lake police have captured the robber at the top of their most wanted list. They arrested Wade Wadley--also known as the "acne robber" --- this morning at a laundromat.
Police believe he committed at least twelve robberies over the last month. Apparently Wadley needed a place to stay last night and chose the bathroom of a laundromat. But a manager found him inside this morning and knew, if nothing else, he wasn't supposed to be there.
After twelve robberies almost everyone was watching for suspect Wade Wadley. Hitting stores all over Salt Lake City, he earned himself a nickname--"the Acne Robber," or the "East Side Bandit." Now he's called an inmate.
Wadley apparently hid in the bathroom until the place was locked up last night, but tripped the alarm in the morning. Manager Christy Myers responded.
Christy Myers, Laundromat Manager: ”He said ‘you locked me in here, let me out.’ He was way calm, kinda weird. I'd a been freaking out."
Myers didn't let him out. Instead she called police. She didn't know he was a wanted for robbing a dozen stores, but Myers did know she had seen him before.
Christy Myers: “I seen him in here last week. I didn't pay much attention to the guy, he came in used the bathroom he left."
The robbery squad at the Salt Lake City Police Department had been after Wadley for some time with growing concern. The bandit continued to target female clerks and he seemed to be getting more aggressive as he made serious threats.
Sgt. C.T. Smith, Salt Lake City Police Dept.: “There were intimations of a weapon, there were portions of a weapon. And on one occasion there was ammunition held between his fingers."
Police believe the robberies were motivated by a serious cocaine and heroin habit. He did not resist arrest.
