HAMPTON – A man wanted for a Hampton motel robbery was arrested after robbing a Va. Beach business, police said.

From Va. Beach Police Dept.

Louis Anton Ballas

Police say Louis Anton Ballas, 39, robbed the Econo Lodge in the 2700 block of W. Mercury Blvd. around 11:18 a.m. Sunday.

According to witnesses, he threatened the staff with a flare gun, got money and left after demanding a cabbie take him to Norfolk.

When police tried to stop the cab, Ballas got out and ran.

He was arrested Sunday evening in Va. Beach following the robbery of the Exxon service station in the 2100 block of Upton Drive.

It occurred around 7:25 p.m. and he was found soon after that. A K-9 unit led police to Ballas, who hiding in the brush near the pond behind the Red Robin restaurant, according to police.

In Hampton, Ballas faces charges of robbery, abduction and two counts of use of a firearm.

In Va. Beach, he's in jail charged with two counts of robbery and one count each of abduction and use of a firearm.

Police believe Ballas is homeless and is from the Chicago area.