Local pharmacy burglarized
By Staff
Jason Houston FCT Managing Editor
Russellville Police are investigating a weekend burglary at a local pharmacy.
Police Chief Chris Hargett said Rite-Aid Pharmacy, located on U.S. 43 in Russellville in the Foodland Shopping Center, was burglarized in the early morning hours Saturday, and 4,906 pills were stolen. The pills were mostly pain-killers and have a street value of approximately $15,000, according to RPD Drug Investigator Lt. Scotty Lowery. Types of pills taken included Vicoden, Lorcet and Lortab, Lowery said.
The break-in did several thousand dollars worth of damage to the store, including the disabling of the store's alarm system.
Lowery said the break-in was very similar to a break-in attempt at Fred's in January, and similar to a separate burglary at Rite-Aid in March of 2004.
Lowery said the investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Russellville Police at 332-2230.
One of the suspects from the January burglary, David Lashell Hannan, 31, of 2401 Vining Avenue in Huntsville, was extradited this week from Ringgold, Ga., where he was arrested several weeks ago after being caught during a traffic stop.
Hannan was held by the Catoosa County Sheriff's Department on charges of driving under the influence and other traffic charges. Lowery said Hannan signed extradition papers and was transported to Russellville after he posted bond in Ringgold.
Lowery said Hannan originally gave law enforcement officials a false name, but a fingerprint matched computer files on the Russellville case.
Here, Hannan faces charges of third-degree burglary, first-degree attempted theft, first-degree criminal mischief and possession of burglary tools.
Russellville police arrested one man at the time of the Jan. 12 break-in, Michael Humphrey, 25, of Huntsville.
Officers interrupted what they believed to be a major burglary in progress. Hannan fled the scene on foot the night Humphrey was arrested.
Hannan was being held in the Russellville City Jail at press time awaiting a bond hearing.
