On November 18th 2009 at 8:57 pm Coeur d’Alene Police responded to the report of a robbery in progress at the Shopko Pharmacy located at 217 W. Ironwood Drive. The store was open for business with employees and customers inside.Officers were advised an armed male suspect was inside the front door of the business and was being physically restrained by a Shopko employee. Sgt. Walther and Sgt. McCormick were in the vicinity of the store and were able to respond immediately. They both observed the Shopko employee on the floor, on top of the suspect, and struggling to get physical control of the handgun. Both sergeants restrained the suspect while he was actively resisting and gained control of the weapon. The suspect, a 29 year old male from Lewiston Idaho, was taken into custody and placed into a patrol car.
Witnesses stated the male walked into the store wearing a ski mask. He approached an employee in the pharmacy, claimed he had a gun and ordered the employee to give him prescription medication. He grabbed the medication and attempted to flee the store when a Shopko employee tackled him near the door.
While in custody the male suspect appeared to have a seizure. Medical personnel examined him and found him to have no injuries. He was transported to Kootenai Medical Center and was later transported to the jail.
This incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information on this crime is asked to contact Coeur d’Alene Police at 769-2320.
