The man accused of being the ""parka bandit"" who committed multiple armed robberies throughout Madison was charged Thursday with eight felonies, including one for drug possession.
Justin M. Simpson, 20, confessed to a series of armed robberies after Sgt. Chris Paulson of the Madison Police Department arrested him Sunday on Park Street.
According to the Wisconsin State Journal, it is likely Simpson was using the robberies to bring in the cash necessary to fuel his apparent heroin addiction.
Joel DeSpain, public information officer for the MPD, said it is not unusual for someone who has a drug dependency to have to keep committing crimes to feed their drug habit.
""We do see heroin in Madison,"" he said. ""Certainly heroin is not new to the city of Madison, and we do see it here.""
DeSpain also said Simpson was hitting up locations all across the city. He is a possible suspect in armed robberies that took place in Monona, DeForest, Sun Prairie and Middleton.
A full-scale dragnet was put up by the MPD for over a week while officers actively searched for Simpson throughout the city.
""The officer who spotted him was part of that proactive force that was on the street,"" DeSpain said.
DeSpain said the police department had teams out who were prepared to go to a location if and when there was another robbery.
""Other people were just out on the street looking for people who would just generally match the description of the suspect,"" he said.
According to the WSJ, Assistant District Attorney Vanny Lu said that if Simpson is convicted of each robbery charge, he could face up to 280 years of combined prison time and extended supervision.
