RICHMOND—
CBS 6 has uncovered new information about the man arrested and charged with beating a Richmond Police officer in the face with a handgun.Willie Coley, Jr. was caught Tuesday night as he tried to climb out of a motel room window on Azalea Avenue.
The arrest came 24 hours after CBS 6 profiled Coley on "Monday's Most Wanted." Now police are trying to figure out how many violent crimes Coley may be connected to.
Sources tell CBS 6 they know of at least three robberies and of Coley's suspected involvement in a recent carjacking.
Two of Breck Kittrell's buddies were robbed at gunpoint and he says the bike found in a motel room where police found Coley belongs to his friend on North Avenue. Kittrell says, "He pulled up on him and had a gun."
Working off a Crime Stoppers tip, Richmond Police swarmed the Chamberlayne Motel on Azalea Avenue Tuesday night and found Coley. At the time he was climbing out of a small bathroom window, grabbing the gutter and trying to hoist himself up on an air conditioning unit.
Kevin Connolly with the U.S. Fugitive Task Force says, "This is a big arrest. We want to thank the viewers for doing the right thing and calling Crime Stoppers to help RPD catch this fugitive."
A fugitive task force led by U.S. Marshals had been looking for Coley for nearly two weeks, the search kicked off after investigators say Coley pistol-whipped a police officer in Gilpin Court May 15.
"This should serve as a reminder that law enforcement will not tolerate assaults on it's public safety officers."
In an interview about crime statistics, Commonwealth's Attorney Mike Herring says robberies are on the radar, but with the capture of this guy, sources say they may be able to clear multiple cases.
Police say other than trying to make a run for it, Coley did not resist arrest and sources say the weapon matching the description of the gun used to pistol-whip the officer has been recovered.
