Macomb County Man Charged In Armed Pharmacy Robbery
ROMEO (WWJ) - A man who authorities say held a woman at knife-point when he robbed a Washington Township pharmacy is behind bars.
Thomas Moore, 27, of Bruce Township, has been charged with armed robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon following the incident at the Cornerstone Medical Group building on Van Dyke near 30 Mile Road.
"It appears that we have our man," said Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham.
Wickersham said surveillance video led them to Moore, who allegedly entered the business in the afternoon of Sept. 19, held a knife to a customer's midsection, demanded Vicodin from the pharmacist, and then fled with the pills.
On Wednesday, Deputy Adnan Durrani spotted an SUV matching the description of the suspect vehicle — a 2000 Ford Explorer — made a traffic stop, and arrested Moore.
Leonard resident Andrew Martone, who went to Romeo High School with Moore, said he and his former classmates were surprised to hear of Moore's arrest.
"Everyone knew who he was," said Martone, who described Moore as a really nice, quiet guy who'd played school sports. "It was kinda shocking ... You wouldn't think someone like the way he was would do something like that," he said.
While it's not been confirmed that Moore was addicted to pain killers, Martone said that recreationally popping prescription pills has become more and more common in northern Macomb County.
"It's almost an epidemic around Romeo right now," said Martone. "It seems like around here, in past few years, it's been a big problem with the pills —and then, when it doesn't work for them anymore, it leads to other stuff ... like heroine."
Moore was arraigned Thursday in the 42nd District Court of Romeo. He received a $400,000 cash/surety bond and remains housed in the Macomb County Jail pending a hearing set for Oct. 8.
"This was an incident that was a high-priority for our agency," said Wickersham, in a media release. "Our deputies worked diligently following up on leads to get this individual identified and off our streets."
