DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines man has been arrested in connection with two separate robberies of the same convenience store in Des Moines’ Easter Lake neighborhood.

Thomas Frommelt, 50, is charged with two counts of first-degree robbery and interference with official acts. Sgt. Paul Parizek, spokesman of the Des Moines Police Department, said Frommelt was arrested Thursday night.

DMPD officers were called to the Git N Go convenience store at 2140 E. Park Ave. around 11:10 p.m. Thursday after a suspect, later identified as Frommelt, allegedly threatened the clerk with a knife. He took cigarettes and cash in the robbery and then fled on foot. The clerk told police they believed the suspect was the same person who robbed the store on November 11, 2024.

Officers responding to the robbery spotted Frommelt near SE 21st St. and Park Ave. but he ran from them. A perimeter was secured and K9 help was requested from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Sgt. Parizek said Frommelt was tracked to the 2100 block of E. Hughes Ave. where he was found hiding behind a garage. He wasn’t compliant and was bitten by the K9 as officers took him into custody.

Des Moines Fire Department medics treated Frommelt on the scene.

Criminal complaints filed in the case claim Frommelt admitted to both robberies in a post-Miranda interview with police and described them in detail. The complaints say in each robbery the suspect displayed a large knife and demanded money and cigarettes.

Frommelt is being held in the Polk County Jail.