Undercover work leads to brothers’ arrest in pharmacy break-ins
Thanks to an undercover investigation by the Russellville Police Department, two brothers are now in custody for their involvement in recent burglaries at a local pharmacy.
Jason Christopher Alexander, 29, 141 Webster Circle, Russellville, was arrested at 1:30 a.m. Monday and charged with third-degree burglary, first-degree criminal mischief, second-degree attempted theft of property and possession of burglar’s tools.
Jonathan Daniel “Seth” Alexander, 27, 974 Franklin 74, Russellville, was arrested Monday morning and charged with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
According to Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett, both arrests were made in connection to the Jan. 31 theft and burglary of Family Pharmacy on U.S. 43 near Burger King in Russellville.
“Over the course of the last couple of weeks, we were involved in an undercover drug investigation that potentially had ties to recent break-ins at Family Pharmacy,” Hargett said.
“Based on information our officers received, we were able to make an undercover drug purchase from Seth Alexander on Friday where 50 hydrocodone pills were purchased, and we have reason to believe these pills were some of the same ones stolen from Family Pharmacy on Jan. 31.”
Hargett said during the course of the same undercover drug investigation, officers were able to develop two people of interest in the burglaries that occurred at Family Pharmacy on Jan. 31 and on previous occasions.
From this information, officers were able to determine that Family Pharmacy could possibly be burglarized again on Sunday night.
“We set up surveillance of the pharmacy and investigators noticed movement in front of the pharmacy at 1:30 a.m.,” Hargett said.
The movement was from Seth Alexander’s brother, Jason Alexander.
Once Jason Alexander threw a large rock through one of the plate glass windows at the front of the store, investigators moved in and made the arrest without incident, Hargett said.
Hargett said since Jason Alexander was caught in the act of burglarizing Family Pharmacy and Seth Alexander was caught selling pills similar to the ones stolen from the business on Jan. 31, they are now suspects for that burglary as well as previous burglaries that took place at the same pharmacy several weeks ago.
Investigators said Seth Alexander will be held on a violation of his bond conditions from a previous burglary case.
Jason Alexander will be held for agencies in Colbert County for burglary and arrest charges there.
