Diewaines Kent Holland, 50, was arrested in a Texas motel Saturday, Sallisaw Police Chief Shaloa Edwards said. He said Holland's girlfriend, Rose Marie Medearis, is also wanted for questioning. Police believe Medearis may have driven a car for Holland during the robberies.
Holland is also facing charges in Sequoyah County for failing to register as a sex offender. A warrant was filed Friday for Holland's arrest, along with a felony charge. Holland was living in rural Vian, but abruptly moved to an unknown location, failing to notify the Sequoyah County Sheriff's Office or the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, which is a violation of Sex Offender Registration Act, according to the charge.
Edwards said Sallisaw investigators were traveling to Texas Wednesday to question Holland and Medearis about the Sequoyah County robberies. Medearis was not arrested and is reportedly staying in the motel where Holland was arrested.
The suspect in the robberies is accused of robbing Diamond Express in Sallisaw on Dec. 24 and EZ Mart at 1504 W. Cherokee in Sallisaw on Dec. 26. He is also accused in the Dec. 29 robbery of Arena Truck Stop, formerly known as Curt's, in Muldrow.
In the Dec. 24 robbery, over $850 was stolen, while $36 was taken during the Dec. 26 robbery, according to police. In Muldrow, the suspect reportedly got away with at least $900, police reported.
In all three robberies, which are believed to be connected, the black male suspect ordered the store clerks to the floor while he proceeded to steal money from the cash register.
Witnesses of all three robberies also reported seeing a silver or gold, small car leaving the scene.
One of the witnesses in the Muldrow robbery saw a car with a black front fender leaving the scene, police said.
According to an information sheet, Holland drives a gold, 1990 four-door Honda Accord, with primer painted fenders.
