The suspect walked into the store with a bandanna over his face and threatened the clerk at the front of the store. The suspect walked to the pharmacy, in the back of the store, and demanded all of the Oxycodone and Hydromorphone pills, which are prescription drugs.
The suspect had his hand in his pocket and implied he had a gun. Pharmacy staff placed the prescription drugs on the counter for the suspect. The suspect demanded a bag and that is when he was taken down by Jaanus Jurisoo, a witness that was inside the store at the time of the incident. Jurisoo held the defendant down until officers arrived on scene. Further investigation showed the suspect was not armed.
Freddie F. Johnson, 65, of 704 Rellim Lane, Sarasota, has been charged with one count armed robbery in connection to this case. Johnson is also facing one count of armed robbery in connection to the Hedges Pharmacy robbery which occurred on February 27, 2014.
"Although we applaud the actions of Mr. Jurisoo in bringing this suspect into custody, we do not encourage or recommend that members of the public take matters into their own hands when they observe a crime. We recommend that individuals who observe criminal activity not put themselves into harm's way or place themselves into a position to become a victim. We would ask that if you see a crime in progress to call 911 immediately and provide as much information to the responding police officers that they possibly can to assist the officers make the apprehension of the suspect(s)" said Captain Patrick Robinson, Bureau of Patrol Operations, Sarasota Police Department.
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