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A Warsaw man arraigned Friday on a weapons offense has been charged in connection with the March 31 armed robbery at a Warsaw gas station.
Jason Anthony Waikel, 22, of 2949 E. Joshua Drive, was being held in the Kosciusko County Jail on $10,000 bond for possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon after being arrested Wednesday. He was charged Friday with robbery, a Class B felony, and is being held on a $50,000 bond for that offense.
Waikel is accused of robbing the Phillips 66 on South Buffalo Street of an undisclosed amount of cash. When he entered the business, Waikel reportedly ordered a customer to the ground at gunpoint and demanded that the employee behind the cash register put all the money in a plastic bag that Waikel handed him. He then fled the area on foot. A police K-9 search of the area ended a short distance away, where police believe the robbery suspect got into a vehicle.
According to detectives with the Warsaw Police Department, Waikel also is a suspect in the Jan. 26 armed robbery of the Super 8 Motel on Frontage Road in Warsaw.
In that case, the suspect reportedly pointed a gun at the motel manager and handed him a plastic bag and demanded money. A K-9 search in that incident also ended unsuccessfully when the trail ended.
Officials said two search warrants were served Wednesday at a West CR 100S residence where Waikel was staying. The search warrants were issued as part of the ongoing investigation of the Phillips 66 case.
A search of the home reportedly turned up three guns, resulting in Waikel's initial arrest. Officers with the WPD and Indiana State Police also reported finding clothing matching that given in descriptions from the robbery victims, items used in several robberies and $1,500 in cash. The bag believed used in the Phillips 66 robbery also was recovered.
Waikel has reportedly admitted his involvement in both the Phillips 66 and Super 8 robberies.
Police said Waikel, who is on parole in an aggravated battery case after being released from prison in August, is a suspect in several other incidents still under investigation, including the March 14 burglary of Maxx Tan in Warsaw.
Additional charges will be filed against Waikel and arrests of more suspects are expected in connection with some of the incidents.
