Man Arrested in Crime Spree Attributed to Water Well Bandit

A 21-year-old transient was arrested Wednesday in connection with a series of recent armed robberies in National City and San Diego, National City police said Wednesday.

Police believe that Kevin Earl Cartwright is the so-called Water Well Bandit, a robber who was often at a well in the 2000 block of Division Street in National City, where he robbed the elderly who came to get water.

Local residents frequently go to the well to fill their water jugs, police said. Cartwright allegedly stole money and cars from the elderly. He would then allegedly use the cars to commit other armed robberies. Almost always, said police, the victims were injured.

Cartwright was arrested 1 a.m. Wednesday in the 4900 block of Palin Street in San Diego. Cartwright was taken to County Jail downtown, where he is being held in connection with several armed robberies and on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, and auto theft. He is being held on $102,000 bail. Arraignment is scheduled for Friday in South Bay Municipal Court.