11-23-02: Armed robber still on the loose

11-23-02: Armed robber still on the loose

By MARGIE WUEBKER
The Daily Standard

    Local police continue to investigate an armed robbery that occurred Thursday morning at CVS Pharmacy, 1020 N. Main St.
    An undisclosed amount of OxyContin was taken in the 10:22 a.m. incident, according to Celina Police Department reports. Celina Police Chief Dave Slusser estimated the value at several thousand dollars.
    Police are working with law enforcement officers in western Ohio and eastern Indiana communities, which have experienced similar robberies involving the narcotic used to treat moderate to severe pain. Among those cities are Lima, Greenville and Decatur, Ind.
    A man entered the store Thursday, pulled a chrome or silver weapon believed to be a .45-caliber handgun and pointed it at two unidentified employees behind the pharmacy counter.
    Employees later described the man as standing 5 feet, 8 inches tall and having dark brown eyes. He was reportedly well dressed with a green or dark colored jacket, a green dress shirt and a multicolored tie. He also sported a green stocking hat and left a side door carrying a white bag containing the OxyContin.
    A man fitting the description apparently was seen getting out of a compact station wagon-type vehicle in the CVS parking lot prior to the robbery, according to Slusser. Information obtained by the police department indicated the vehicle was blue or gray with a woman behind the steering wheel. An informant reported seeing a large white dog, possibly a Huskie, in the back seat.
    "From the information we received, the car did not appear to have Ohio tags," Police Chief Dave Slusser told The Daily Standard.
    No witnesses have reported seeing the man after he left the store. At this point, police are trying to determine if the same car was used or whether the man left in another vehicle.
    Slusser encourages anyone who noticed suspicious activity in the area of CVS or spotted a man fitting the description to call the police department at 419-586-2345.
    The last armed robbery in Celina occurred about three years ago at a Shell station.

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