AKRON, Ohio — A 25-year-old man accused of robbing a slew of stores in the Akron area was arrested on a warrant Monday.
The man, Demetrius Tabler, was linked to two robberies — one at CVS Pharmacy in the 200 block of E. Cuyahoga Falls Avenue on Nov. 22, 2021 and another at Family Dollar in the 600 block of N. Howard Street on Nov. 30, 2021 — by DNA evidence, Akron police said.
Once in custody, authorities say Tabler admitted to seven other robberies that happened in the North Hill and South Akron areas.
Police said Tabler was previously identified as a person of interest in robberies that occurred late last year.
Cuyahoga Falls police picked him up on warrants, according to Akron Lt. Michael Miller.
Police said Tabler acted as if he had a gun during the robberies and passed notes demanding money. DNA found on one of those notes led to the suspect's identification," Miller said.
"That shows you where we are from an advancement of technology standpoint," Miller said. "People aren't always using common sense when they do commit these crimes. They leave us some bread crumbs, if you will," Miller said.
According to Akron Municipal Court records, Tabler is charged with two counts of robbery, both second-degree felonies.
News of the arrest brought relief to Regina Allred-Jones, a laundry attendant at Laundry Time on North Main Street.
A man wearing a mask and hooded sweatshirt robbed the laundromat last November. Police said that was one of the robberies Tabler confessed to.
"We're more relieved now that you have come to us and told us that he was captured because we kept fearing that he might come back," Allred-Jones said. "There's jobs out there. He chose to rob, so I feel he needs to suffer the consequences."
Additional charges are pending, police said.
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