Police capture suspected pharmacy robber
String of four armed holdups began April 21
Wednesday, July 8 | 9:39 p.m.
BY JOHN BRANTON
COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER
Heavily armed SWAT officers on Wednesday arrested a 47-year-old man who's suspected of robbing four supermarket pharmacies at gunpoint for the painkiller OxyContin — and threatening to kill employees if they didn't hand over all the drugs or called police.
Harold J. Andres was arrested about 4 p.m., outside the home of some friends in the 7200 block of Northeast 13th Avenue in Hazel Dell, said Detective Sgt. Duncan Hoss, supervisor of the Tactical Detective Unit of the Clark County Sheriff's Office.
A tip from a confidential informant, which included Andres' name, led to further investigation by detectives with the sheriff's unit and the Vancouver Police Department.
Finding Andres' Ford Ranger pickup parked along 13th Avenue, detectives called for the Southwest Washington Regional SWAT Team and took positions around it, Hoss said.
When Andres emerged from the home, he offered no resistance and was taken to jail.
Wednesday evening, detectives were working to obtain a warrant to search the suspect's truck.
Safeway, Fred Meyer
The pharmacy robberies began on the evening of April 21, in the Safeway at 6700 N.E. 162nd Ave., east of Orchards.
Next to be robbed was the Safeway pharmacy at 2615 N.E. 112th Ave., in the Burton area, on May 5.
Last month, the Fred Meyer pharmacy at 7700 N.E. Highway 99 in Hazel Dell was robbed.
The most recent robbery occurred on Monday at the Safeway pharmacy near Northeast 63rd Street and Andresen Road, in Walnut Grove.
Afterward, a detective with the sheriff's Major Crimes Unit went to the scene to collect evidence.
The arrest brings relief to many, including police, who were concerned that someone eventually would be hurt if the armed robberies continued.
Detectives suspect that the painkiller robber both used and sold the painkillers and, when he ran out, staged another holdup, Hoss said.
After being captured, Andres, a Clark County resident, refused to speak with officers and told them he wanted to speak with an attorney. He was taken to the Clark County Jail.
by Ryan Thomas : 7/9/09 6:49am - Report Abuse
Sadly this wont be the end. With the Payette Clinic not helping their addiction any more drug addicts have to get it from somewhere. Either that or switch to heroin, which I never understood why they didn't in the first place because its the same thing just much cheaper. I guess this just proves how dumb these guys are.