SAPD Busts One-Armed Bandit

San Angelo's own one-armed bandit was apprehended Saturday, following two unrelated calls for service. 

Boliver D. Newkirk, 36, is suspected of robbing a local motel on Saturday afternoon at around 2:00 p.m. SAPD detectives picked him up later in the evening, when an officer recognized him as a witness to a fight. He was charged with aggravated robbery.

Police believe Newkirk is the man who entered a laundry room located at the Econo Lodge, 415 W. Beauregard and threatened an employee at gunpoint while demanding cash.  Newkirk ran from the laundry room to a nearby vehicle driven by another man.  The two fled the area before police arrived.  The victim was not injured during the robbery.

Witnesses at the scene told police they observed the suspect, described as a one-armed white male with a thick build, get into a silver-colored Mazda Tribute driven by another white male.  Police also obtained surveillance video, which corroborated the witnesses’ accounts.  Although police searched the surrounding area, they were unable to locate the perpetrators or vehicle.

Newkirk was apprehended several hours after the robbery during an unrelated incident.  At approximately 5:45 p.m., police were dispatched to 1922 Pulliam St. to investigate a fight in progress where it was reported that two men were actively fighting outside the Mar Jan Apartment complex.

Upon arrival, SAPD Patrol Officer J. Jones searched the immediate area and located two men in a nearby alley who claimed to be witnesses to the fight.  Officer Jones recognized one of the men who matched the description of the aggravated robbery suspect from the Econo Lodge. 

Officer Jones detained and identified the man as Bolivar Newkirk (DOB 10-24-77).  Assisting officers searched the immediate area in an attempt to locate the assault victim who reportedly ran away after the assault.  Although a victim was never located, SAPD Officers A. Dietz and C. Flores noticed a silver-colored Mazda Tribute that matched the getaway vehicle used in the robbery.  The 2003 Mazda Tribute was occupied by a male subject who matched the description of the driver from the robbery.  The man was identified but his name is not being released at this time pending further investigation. 

SAPD Detective Ali Shah was requested to the scene for a follow-up investigation into the robbery.  During the interview with Newkirk, Newkirk requested medical attention and was transported to Shannon Medical Center by ambulance for treatment of an undisclosed ailment.  Upon his release from medical care, Newkirk was arrested and transported to the Tom Green County Jail.

Further investigation into the fight call showed Newkirk was a witness to an assault that occurred between two males.  The victim of the assault, who remains unidentified, has not come forward to police. 

San Angelo Police Department Crime Scene Investigations processed both locations for evidence.  The gun used in the robbery has not been located.