Violent takeover robbers arrested

Outstanding investigative work by police officers, detectives results in robbery arrests. On February 14 members of the Milwaukee Police Department arrested two men about two hours after they robbed an Auto Zone vehicle parts store at 6312 W. Capitol Dr. at 8:20 p.m. Detectives and police officers were investigating 29-year-old Jason Wilson and 32-year-old Robert Nash as possible suspects in the robberies of several businesses including seven auto parts stores. The suspects were under surveillance when they drove to the Auto Zone store at 63rd and Capitol in a red and grey Hyundai SUV. The two men concealed their faces and pulled out handguns after they entered the store. The suspects bound the hands of four employees and a customer. They obtained money and fled from the scene in the SUV. Detectives and officers followed the suspects from a distance until they parked and entered a home near 40th and Galena. Members of the Tactical Enforcement Unit responded and the suspects were taken into custody without incident. A search warrant was executed at the residence which resulted in the recovery of the money obtained in the robbery, two semi-automatic pistols, a rifle and bullet resistant body armor. Jason Wilson has confessed to committing several armed robberies and has implicated Robert Nash as his accomplice. Wilson stated that he probably would have shot it out with police officers if they had tried to stop them. Wilson is currently on probation for Felon in Possession of a Firearm and narcotics offenses. Nash is on probation for Recklessly Endangering Safety. Both have extensive arrest records with the Milwaukee Police Department. On February 14 they were each arrested for more than 27 felony charges resulting from their crimes. None of the victims, suspects or police officers was injured during the operation. Jason Wilson had been one of multiple suspects arrested in September of 2011 for suspicion of committing similar robberies, however he was eventually released because there was insufficient evidence to formerly charge him. The joint operation was planned and supervised by Lt. Steven Gabrish of the Central Investigations Division. District 3 Police Officers Patrick Fuhrman, Richard Litwin and Steven Strasser, and Detectives Vanessa Harms, Harold Young, Herb Glidewell and Britt Kohnert were instrumental in this successful mission. Assistant District Attorney Jacob Corr brought the charges in the case and continues to review subsequent cases in these robberies.