Three arrested in connection to string of holdups

Authorities say they arrested a 24-year-old career criminal May 30 who is responsible for a series of armed robberies in the last few days across Lorain County, including a Denny’s restaurant earlier in the day.

Officers assigned to the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Unit executed an aggravated robbery arrest warrant for Phillip A. Boschetti Jr. at 1935 North Ridge Road in Elyria Township, according to a news release from the Elyria Police Department.

Elyria police determined Boschetti was inside the residence and had access to several weapons, the release said.

Boschetti was taken into custody without incident.

Detectives from the Elyria Police Department and Sheriff’s Office say Boschetti was responsible for the armed robberies in Elyria, the city of Lorain and surrounding townships, according to the release.

The holdups included: on May 21, at S&B Gas, 5411 Pearl Ave. in Lorain; May 27, at Convenient Food Mart, 42163 North Ridge Road; May 28, at Speedway, 710 Griswold in Elyria; May 28, at BP gas station, 402 E. Bridge St. in Elyria; May 29, at Circle K, 705 Oberlin/Elyria Road; and May 30, at Denny’s, 610 Tillotson St. in Elyria, according to the release.

Elyria police arrested Boschetti in 2014 for two armed robberies: Circle K, 402 E. Broad St. in Elyria; and Puffer’s Floral Shop, 821 E. River St. in Elyria, the release said.

Boschetti recently was released from prison after serving time for the robberies, according to the release.

Police also arrested Alan T. Wharton, 29, and Amber Blackburn, 27, and charged them in connection to the robberies, the release said.

Elyria police Capt. Chris Costantino commended detectives from the Elyria and Lorain police departments and from the Sheriff’s Office for their hard work in “putting an end to the dangerous crime spree.”