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| 07-14-03: Couple suspected in more area robberies |
By TIMOTHY COX
The Daily Standard
Law enforcement officials believe the husband and wife arrested Friday
evening in connection with the robbery of the Celina CVS Pharmacy are the culprits in a
string of similar crimes here and across Indiana.
Celina Police Chief Dave Slusser this morning confirmed that
authorities believe they have nabbed a Fort Wayne, Ind. ,couple responsible for eight
thefts of the prescription narcotic OxyContin from area pharmacies. The duo was taken into
custody less than 30 minutes after people matching their description were involved in the
armed robbery of the CVS store at the corner of Main Street and Myers Road on the north
edge of Celina.
Slusser confirmed this morning the male suspect brandished a gun and
then made off with an undisclosed amount of Oxy-Contin. The man was found hiding in the
backseat of a car when it was stopped north of Celina near the intersection of U.S. 127
and Ohio 707.
The names of the suspects have not been released pending the filing of
formal charges. They were scheduled to appear in Celina Municipal Court this afternoon.
The 32-year-old woman and 28-year-old man are being held in the Mercer County Jail.
Working with other law enforcement jurisdictions, authorities have
decided the pair likely are responsible for a prior robbery at the Celina CVS store and
for similar crimes in Kokomo, Plymouth, Berne, Decatur and Marion, all in Indiana. The
Marion location also was struck twice, Slusser said.
After facing local charges, the spouses likely would have to appear in
each county in Indiana where they will be charged, Slusser said. Federal charges also
could be filed. A federal task force based in Fort Wayne has been investigating the
thefts.
The suspects were apprehended when an off-duty Celina police officer
spotted a car matching the description given by witnesses only minutes after Friday
night's robbery. The officer followed the vehicle in his private vehicle until marked law
enforcement cruisers caught up with the procession. |
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