Portsmouth police on Monday arrested a suspect in the Saturday afternoon robbery at the College Drive Walmart.

Michael Anthony Richardson, 47, of the 4700 block of High Street, also is wanted in two separate grocery store robberies in Portsmouth that took place on Thursday, according to a press release from Portsmouth police.

A Portsmouth officer was on routine patrol in the 1000 block of Broad Street about 5 p.m. Monday when he spotted a vehicle parked at the Economy Lodge that fit the description provided by witnesses in the robbery of a Food Lion in Portsmouth. He coordinated a search, and Richardson was found inside one of the hotel rooms.

Richardson was wanted for allegedly failing to register as a sex offender, the press release said.

Officers allegedly recovered evidence at the hotel linking Richardson to several robberies in Portsmouth and Suffolk and two attempted robberies in Franklin.

In the Suffolk incident, a suspect entered the College Drive Walmart around 4:20 p.m. Saturday and demanded money from the register in the lawn and garden section, city spokeswoman Debbie George said Monday. He did not display any weapons but was given some money.

According to Lt. Tim Whitt of the Franklin Police Department, the suspect also tried to rob the Farm Fresh and Food Lion stores on Armory Drive in Franklin. He was unsuccessful in both tries but threatened cashiers, Whitt said.