3 Arrests After Pharmacy Robbery Suspects Shot At Police On Detroit's West Side
DETROIT (WWJ) - Three people have been arrested following a manhunt that began with a pharmacy robbery and shooting in Detroit.
Detroit police, Friday morning, surrounded a west side neighborhood in search of three robbery suspects who apparently fired shots at officers.
Police were focusing their efforts in the area of Outer Drive and Conant Street, in a neighborhood near 8 Mile Road and I-75; and the three suspects arrested were found in the 19200 block of Shields.
At one point, several officers with K-9 units were canvasing a four-block radius while another group of officers focused on an alley just north of Outer Drive on Goddard Street.
The suspects first caught the attention of police around 3:30 a.m. after an armed robbery occurred at the Rite Aid drug store on 8 Mile Road and Dequindre Street. According to police, the three suspects walked into the store carrying guns and assaulted a female store manager and male pharmacist.
Police said the suspects then put $3,300 in cash and "numerous bottles of liquor" into backpacks before fleeing the scene.
Police quickly responded to the area and found the suspects near Goddard Road and Outer Drive, at which time the suspects allegedly fired shots at officers before fleeing on foot.
While searching for the suspects, police recovered a black backpack and at least one mask they believe were used in the commission of a crime.
Prior to the attests, Assistant Police Chief Steve Dolunt spoke with WWJ's Mike Campbell about the manhunt.
"We've got a dog out, we've secured the area and we're looking for the money or the [liquor] bottles, any evidence of that," Dolunt said. "Our violent crimes task force is working on it. The investigation is ongoing but we've got some decent leads so we're perusing those."
The suspects were all described as black males about 5 feet, 9 inches tall, wearing dark with their faces covered. Police said they were to be considered armed and dangerous, and could be connected to additional crimes.
"These individuals may have been involved in a robbery a couple of days ago at another business down the street, so we're checking to see if that works out," Dolunt said.
Dolunt said the suspects were wearing "distinctive clothing." One suspect, who was caught on the store's security cameras, was wearing a gray sweatshirt with red and black lettering that says "Swag Don't Come Cheap."
Walter Gildersleve, who conducts neighborhood watch patrols in the area, urged the community to speak up if they see something suspicious.
"If you see some young guys come to your store and they're spending hundreds and fifties that they normally don't spend, say something. Take that as something suspicious, you know, last week he was buying a Faygo pop and now he's buying Ciroc, stuff like that," Gildersleve said, adding that speaking up is "not snitching, it's telling the truth."
The pharmacist and store manager were both transported to local hospitals for treatment.
Anyone with information about this crime is urged to contact Detroit police at 313-267-4600 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com for the latest.
