Three arrested, tied to robbery string

By Ben Rodgers

Staff Writer

GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Police Department announced the arrest of three men believed to be tied to a string of armed robberies at a press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

Police said Jeffrey W. Gross, 35, De Pere, Darrin K. Hill, 28, Oneida, and Joshua J. Way, 25, Seymour, were arrested shortly after a robbery on Dec. 29 in Seymour in connection to a recent string of robberies.

In December a Hardees, Cousins Subs and Subway were robbed on West Mason Street, a Dollar General and Burger King were robbed on South Military Avenue, a Subway on University Avenue, Shell gas station in De Pere, a Subway in Ashwaubenon and a Subway in Howard were robbed as well.

At each location a male wearing mostly black with a covered face wielding a knife got away with between $200 and $300.

The three were arrested in connection to at least six of the robberies.    

Way was named as the main suspect.

Charges were not immediately available at deadline.   

It is believed the robberies took place with increasing frequencies to possibly feed a drug habit.

During four of the six robberies employees at the businesses were made to go into a freezer, according to Jim Runge, commander of the Green Bay Police Department.  

That is what happened in Howard on Dec. 29.

As the incidents were occuring there was communication between numerous law enforcement agencies in Northeast Wisconsin which allowed for quick action to occur.

Investigator Bob Messer from the Ashwaubenon Public Safety Department was given credit for developing information and names that led to an arrest.

Other agencies to help in the investigation include the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Green Bay Police Department, Ashwaubenon Public Safety Department, De Pere Police Department, Seymour Police Department, Appleton Police Department and the Outagamie Sheriff’s Department.

In 2017 there were 66 robberies in the Green Bay area, of those six are believed to have been committed by these three men.  

While it is believed the robberies are all related the investigation is still ongoing and additional charges are possible.