Persistent employee stops pharmacy robber

A persistent pharmacy employee foiled a robbery today after refusing to hand over drugs, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. Police are looking for a white man in his early 20s who fled the Wandermere Rite Aid, 12120 N. Division St., after witnesses say he handed employees a note demanding OxyContin and methadone. “Not seeing a weapon, the employee chose to withhold the drugs,” according to Sgt. Dave Reagan. “The suspect demanded the drugs again, but fled the store when the employee stood his ground.” The would-be robber fled northbound on Highway 395 in a red car. He’s described as 5-foot-9 with a thin build, dark hair and pockmarked face. He wore a black, long-sleeved shirt, a black baseball cap with a flat bill and dark pants. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233. This is the third OxyContin-related crime in the past two weeks. A man was arrested in a robbery Sunday at Walgreens at Division Street and Empire Avenue. Police have identified a suspect, Nicholas Blessing, in a June 16 robbery at the Walgreens at Wellesley Avenue and Crestline Street and hope to make an arrest soon, Lt. Dave McGovern said. Sheriff’s deputies are still looking for a man who asked for OxyContin at a North Division Walgreens last month but fled when an employee asked if he really wanted to commit a robbery.