Tuesday, April 3, 2007

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'Salon Bandit' busted at Arizona poker table

By Christopher Hunt

Not, unfortunately, just "lost his money on a poker hand" busted. Busted as in "handcuffed and taken to jail for robbing beauty salons" busted. However you define it, though, still a bad day at the poker table for the man accused of being the "Salon Bandit."

As reported by the Associated Press, former journalist Joseph William Watson III was arrested Friday at a Casino Arizona poker table on suspicion of robbing three beauty salons and a variety of other businesses around Scottsdale, Ariz.

Watson immediately admitted to the crimes, the report said, and told detectives he stole to cover his gambling debts.

Police said Watson is under suspicion for a string of hold-ups last month, including the salons, a Subway restaurant, a swimming pool supply store and a bath and beauty store.

He's being held on five counts of armed robbery, AP reports, with a sixth charge pending.

The 35-year-old had worked as an editor at a few publications around Phoenix, including The Arizona Republic and 944 magazine.

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