Suspects arrested last week for burglarizing a Walgreens in Missouri are believed to be part of an organized group that hit Walgreens locations in other cities, including Arkansas City.
On Monday, the Ark City police department said suspects arrested in Rolla, Mo. on Aug. 8 were also suspects in the Aug. 1 burglary of the local Walgreens at 2100 N. Summit. A local investigation into the break-in is ongoing.
“The suspects in the Walgreens burglary have been identified, thanks to the cooperation of many different agencies from several states,” Ark City police officials said in an email statement. “Information was gathered that indicated these suspects had burglarized several Walgreens locations during the past year.”
The Rolla Daily News reports that Jeremy R. Phillips, 26, Micah I. Lazaro, 26, Walter Dallas, 28, Anthony R. Smith, 22, and Raymond D. Ford, 26, all of Houston, Texas, were arrested and subsequently charged with burglary in the second degree, possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, property damage in the first degree, and possession of burglar’s tools.
Early on Aug. 8, Rolla Police were dispatched to the report of a burglary in progress at the local Walgreens location. As they secured the scene, they were informed by Walgreens Corporate Security that the burglary could be linked to others that had occurred throughout the Midwest.
A vehicle description and description of the subjects was circulated. About an hour later, Rolla police learned that the Missouri State Highway Patrol had stopped two vehicles and five individuals matching the descriptions.
Evidence related to the Rolla burglary, including narcotics, clothing, masks and sledge hammers, was recovered.
All five suspects remained in the Phelps County Jail in Missouri on Monday. Bond for each is set at $500,000.
