Redmond, Mercer Island, and Bellevue police officers and King County sheriffs arrested a man who fled in his car moments after robbing Rite Aid Pharmacy on the 17200 block of Redmond Way shortly before 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 12.
The suspect, a 31-year-old male from the Kent area, approached the pharmacy counter, passed a note demanding the medication OxyContin and pointed to his pocket, implying he had a gun. The pharmacist handed him a prescription bottle and immediately called 911 as the man exited the store, got in his vehicle, and traveled towards SR 520.
Officers from Redmond, Mercer Island, and Bellevue and King County sheriffs stopped the man less than 20 minutes later, near exit 6 of I-405.
The suspect complied with authorities and admitted he had a loaded revolver in his vehicle. He was booked into King County Jail for first degree robbery.
The arrest was made possible by the quick actions of the pharmacist, collaboration by all agencies involved, and communication by involved dispatch centers, according to Jim Bove, Redmond police spokesman.
