2 suspects apprehended following armed robbery of pharmacy

HURRICANE – Two people were taken into custody Tuesday evening following the armed robbery of a pharmacy in Hurricane.

Police officers going through a car used by two suspecta in an armed robbery of the Hurricane Family Pharmacy, Hurricane, Utah, June 21, 2016 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Police officers going through a car used by two suspecta in an armed robbery of the Hurricane Family Pharmacy, Hurricane, Utah, June 21, 2016 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

The Hurricane City Police Department was alerted to the armed robbery at the Hurricane Family Pharmacy at 25 N. 2000 West around 5:56 p.m, Hurricane City Police Sgt. Brandon Buell said.

A man armed with a handgun and described by employees as wearing a bandanna and a hat to hide his appearance entered the pharmacy and demanded medications. He then quickly fled the pharmacy after taking an undisclosed amount of medications.

The man then fled the scene in a vehicle. Before he fled, employees paid close attention to his appearance and that of the vehicle he left in.

“Employees were able to get us very good details,” Buell said.

Police saturated the area and soon located the suspect car on 600 North in the area of 700 West. Once pulled over a man and a woman were taken into custody.

Hurricane City Police officers investigate the report of an armed robbery at the Hurricane Family Pharmacy, Hurricane, Utah, June 21, 2016 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Hurricane City Police officers investigate the report of an armed robbery at the Hurricane Family Pharmacy, Hurricane, Utah, June 21, 2016 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

“We do believe we’ve found evidence that is consistent with the robbery and at this time are conducting a very thorough investigation,” Buell said.

Police tracked down the car and pulled it over within minutes of being alerted to the robbery.

“They did a great job,” pharmacy owner Cliff Holt said. “I can’t say enough about our Hurricane Police Department. They caught the guy right away. That’s perfect.”

Buell noted that police regularly patrol the area, just like the rest of the city.

It’s not the first time Hurricane Family Pharmacy has been robbed at gunpoint. It was robbed in March 2014 and March 2015 by the same man, Jonathan Shon Forest, of LaVerkin. Forest was apprehended soon after the second robbery.

Hurricane City Police officers investigate the report of an armed robbery at the Hurricane Family Pharmacy, Hurricane, Utah, June 21, 2016 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Hurricane City Police officers investigate the report of an armed robbery at the Hurricane Family Pharmacy, Hurricane, Utah, June 21, 2016 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

Forest pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges in 2015 and is currently serving five years to life in prison.

Holt and Buell praised the employees for staying calm during the incident.

Though it is an unfortunate part of having a business – the potential of getting robbed – Holt said his employees have specific protocols they are trained to follow in such instances.

“They did a great job, and fortunately they’re all safe because of that,” Holt said.

“We are very thankful that no one was injured during this incident and that we were able to locate the suspects very quickly,” Buell wrote in a press release. “This was a very dangerous situation for the employees of the pharmacy and they did a great job.”

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @MoriKessler

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

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