Lake Elsinore Man Accused In Multiple Armed Robberies Arrested

LAKE ELSINORE (CBSLA.com) — A 45-year-old man accused of serial armed robbery was in custody on Sunday.

According to the Lake Elsinore Police Department,William Despain of Lake Elsinore was arrested on Friday for three counts of armed robber.

Around 12:55 p.m. on Oct. 16, Despain allegedly robbed a service station located in the 300 block of North Main Street.

According to officers, around 8:35 p.m. that same evening, the same service station was robbed at gunpoint by a subject matching the same description of Despain.

Police reported a pizza establishment located in the 18200 block of Collier Avenue was robbed at gunpoint around 11:47 p.m. the following day with a suspect description also matching Despain.

Surveillance video was collected from the establishments, officers explained.

Authorities reported Despain allegedly fled the area on a motorcycle during one of the robberies.

Around 12:21 a.m. on Friday, a patrol officer observed the driver of a motorcycle in the area of Collier Avenue and Central Avenue that matched the description of the man suspected in the robberies.

Despain was subsequently detained and evidence that linked him to the robberies were recovered.

Officers said a search warrant conducted also located several items related to the crime.

Despain is currently being held at the Southwest Detention Center.

Anyone with information regarding the robberies is urged to contact police at (951) 245-3300.