Police nab 3 suspects in theft of metal band’s guitars during Phoenix stop
May 15, 2019, 10:27 AM | Updated: 11:54 am
(MCSO Photos)
(MCSO Photos)
PHOENIX – A popular metal band probably feels a small sense of satisfaction after Phoenix police arrested three men suspected of stealing the group’s guitars during a recent concert date.
Lamb of God played Ak-Chin Pavilion on May 2. A guitar and bass guitar were stolen from the band’s trailer, guitarist Willie Adler posted about the theft (Warning for explicit language) on Instagram.
Phoenix officers arrested William Widener, 62, Michael Blakeslee, 51, and Justin Petersen, 34, on suspicion of theft and trafficking in stolen property.
The instruments were taken from the trailer around 4 a.m., the day of the show, which kicked off the North American tour headlined by Slayer.
Adler wrote, “Apparently, they waited around for us all to leave, and made their way into the back of our semi to commit this felony.”
One of the guitars was listed for sale online, but the ad was pulled down.
ABC15 reported a second guitar was shopped to a pawnbroker, who turned it down.
Widener and Blakeslee were taken into custody May 8 from a home in Mesa. Petersen was arrested the next day, Sgt. Vince Lewis said in an email.
Adler described his unique main guitar as his “beloved Warbird” in the post.
None of the instruments have been recovered.
