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ROYAL OAK – At approximately 9:35 a.m. Friday, August 5, the Royal Oak Police Department received a 911 call regarding an ongoing robbery at Dynamic Care Pharmacy, 4119 W. 13 Mile Road, east of Greenfield Road.
According to police, the 911 caller stated that three men in dark clothing and black ski masks entered the company and immediately demanded controlled substances. The suspects allegedly put prescription pills in boxes and fled the company on foot.
“The 911 call initially came from the pharmacy with a little delay,” Royal Oak Police Department Detective Lieutenant Al Carter said in a telephone interview on Aug. 15. “(Within minutes, police officers) all arrived and set up a perimeter, and the Oak Park K-9 officer helped us, as ours is not on patrol yet.”
Carter said an undercover agent who is part of the Troy Special Investigations Unit “was able to do some digging and also do some research, and it wasn’t long before four of the five (suspects) were taken into custody.”
“Eventually, we also got that fifth person within four hours, which is unheard of,” he said. “We were very proud of the hard work of the officers and the other departments that assisted us.”
Carter said three suspects “stormed” the pharmacy, said they were “taking prescription pills” and asked where they were.
“No weapon was seen or implicated. You don’t need that for a strong arm (robbery). You just have to put that fear on (the employees) to live up to it,” he said. “Unfortunately, there were three employees in the store (during the robbery), but they were unharmed and unharmed. Fortunately, there were no customers or anyone ( in the store at that time).”
He said the crime was “very brutal” as it was committed during the day, but police have seen similar crimes in nearby towns where criminals target pharmacies to get prescription pills to “sell or exchange on the street.” for other drugs’.
“They had about 10 boxes. They were taking different amounts of pills from behind. They went ahead and just grabbed what they needed to get,” Carter said. so they fled with everything they had at the time.”
Royal Oak officers checked security cameras and saw the three suspects get into a red Chevrolet Trailblazer, which police said was occupied by two additional suspects. Carter said police found four of the suspects at a Detroit home and a fifth suspect in Redford, and police seized the Trailblazer, which contained the stolen prescription pills.
Four of the five suspects have criminal histories, and police say all five are currently in the Oakland County Jail.
On Monday, August 8, 44th District Court Judge Derek Meinecke arraigned all five defendants on three counts of unarmed robbery, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison, and one case of possession of a controlled substance, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. . up to 20 years in prison.
Laron Kemail-Pierre Woods, 29, of Redford, had eight outstanding felony warrants at the time of his arrest, as well as convictions for driving with his license suspended and disrupting the peace, police said. His bail was set at $250,000.
Jonathan M. Epstein, Woods’ attorney, said in an Aug. 18 telephone interview that his client “has great family support” and is a father.
“He’s a very likeable guy,” Epstein said. “We have filed a motion with Judge Meinecke to reduce and adjust the bond. We offer the court many guarantees that it will comply with the bond terms.”
Epstein said the bond reduction would be up to the courts, but he hopes Meinecke will consider Woods’ “family circumstances.”
On August 19, Meinecke made his way to Oakland County Circuit Court over Woods, as charged. Woods is due to appear in Circuit Court on August 30. In an Aug. 22 telephone interview, Epstein said he was “disappointed that the judge rejected our motions for bond reduction, but we understand his reasoning.” Epstein said he will appeal the matter to the Circuit Court.
Broderick Deonne Gibson, 26, of Detroit, has 16 outstanding convictions for theft in a building and operating without a license, according to police. His bail was set at $250,000. He must return to the 44th district court for a probable cause conference on Sept. 9.
Douglas D. Hampton, Gibson’s attorney, did not respond to a request for comment from the press.
Tejaan Tupree Simmons, 23, of Redford, has an outstanding felony warrant and a conviction for operating while disabled, according to police. His bail was set at $250,000. He must return to the 44th district court for a probable cause conference on Sept. 9.
Antonio Douglas Tuddles, Simmons’ attorney, said his client “was present on only one incident and he was taken home.” Tuddles said Simmons graduated from high school, owns a house in Redford, and that “he didn’t mean to be involved in anything.”
Jonal Thomas Lake, 26, of Redford, has eight outstanding arrests and a conviction for fleeing and evasion, according to police. His bail was set at $250,000. He must return to the 44th district court for a probable cause conference on Sept. 9.
Randall P. Upshaw, Lake’s attorney, did not respond to a request for comment before press time.
Anthony Eugene Rogers, 31, of Inkster, has no criminal history, according to police. His bail was set at $100,000. On August 19, Meinecke went to Oakland County Circuit Court over Rogers, as charged. Rogers is back in Circuit Court for arraignment on August 30.
Melissa Sue Krauskopf, Rogers’ attorney, did not respond to a request for comment from the press.
For more information, call the Criminal Investigation Division of the Royal Oak Police Department at (248) 246-3456.
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