A 29-year-old Nigerian serial armed robber, Charles Onwuemelie, popularly known as ‘Blue Cloth Bandit’ has been arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
OsunDaily News gathered that the suspect was arrested on Wednesday over 68 armed robberies that have occurred in the LA area since October 2021.
According to Fox News, Onwuemelie was named ‘Blue Cloth Bandit’ by LAPD because of the blue cloth used in covering his handgun during the robberies that occurred at gas stations, 7-11s and Walmarts.
The statement read: “Since October of 2021, there have been a total of 68-armed business robberies attributed by investigators to the same suspect. The robberies have occurred throughout Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles. Investigators from RHD were assigned to investigate the 16 robberies that occurred inside City boundaries”
On September 23, detectives devised a strategy in order to utilize surveillance and execute a search warrant in response to the suspect’s most recent robbery attempt.
In a CCTV footage made public by the LAPD, the suspect pretended to shop for items at a store before displaying his gun covered in a blue cloth.
He was also seen in the video wearing blue gloves and a hat that hid his face.
Police were said to have retrieved a firearm and other evidence from the scene of Onwuemelie’s latest robbery linking him to the crime.
The suspect has been charged with 16 counts of a robbery that allegedly occurred within LA city limits, though officials expect the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to file additional charges for various other robberies that seemingly occurred within the county.
This article was originally published on OsunDaily News
