Police arrested the man allegedly responsible for robbing Fifth Third Bank on South Water Street twice since February at a Greyhound bus station in Akron yesterday afternoon.

Norman Wicklund Jr., 36, of 123 Brady St. in Kent, was heading to Michigan, said a man at Wicklund’s address who identified himself as Wicklund’s roommate. The man, who is a Kent State student, was unsure of where or whom Wicklund planned on visiting. He didn’t want to be identified by name.

According to the roommate, Wicklund had been living with him for a couple of months. He said he had no idea that Wicklund had been arrested or that there had been any bank robberies in Kent.

“I don’t follow the news,” said the roommate. “I thought he (Wicklund) was on a bus headed to Michigan.”

Kent detective Bruce Bassett arrested Wicklund at a Greyhound bus terminal in Akron after police received an anonymous tip, according to police reports.

Bassett, following up on a lead, confronted Wicklund, who then admitted to both robberies and was arrested without incident, Lt. Ray Stein said.

Stein acknowledged the efforts of the police and detectives in the department

“We were getting leads off and on all day and following them up,” Stein said. “It just happened that this one panned out.”

Wicklund allegedly robbed the Fifth Third Bank on Feb. 20 and then again on Monday. Both robberies took place in the early afternoon. It is unknown how much money was taken in either robbery.

Wicklund will be arraigned in Kent Municipal Court today. He is charged with two counts of robbery.

Contact public affairs reporter Channing Hindel at [email protected].