North Spokane Rite Aid robbery suspects arrested

Spokane police arrested two men they say robbed a north Spokane drugstore Tuesday night.

Eric Reisen, 22, and Thomas Sweeney, 24, are both in Spokane County Jail after police say they robbed a Rite Aid location near North Division Street and East Rowan Avenue. Reisen and Sweeney showed a gun and a note demanding pharmacy clerks hand over all the OxyContin, according to an affidavit. The clerk placed numerous bottles of OxyContin in a bag, as well as a bottle with a tracking device inside, according to the affidavit. The two men then fled the store, leading police on a short high-speed chase.

The car they were driving struck a pole, and both men fled on foot, police said.

Reisen attempted to break into a home and take the occupant hostage, but she escaped, according to the affidavit. He was arrested in the backyard of a home in the 1500 block of West Glass Avenue, about 3 miles from the scene of the robbery, and booked into jail around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.

A duffel bag containing prescription pills was found nearby. He faces charges of armed robbery, armed burglary, attempting to elude police and possession of a controlled substance. His bond is set at $50,000.

Sweeney was booked into jail about three hours later after turning himself in. Sweeney had fled a home he had hidden in by breaking through a window, leaving a substantial amount of blood behind, police said. He also faces charges of armed robbery and possession of a controlled substance. His bond is set at $30,000.

Additional charges may be filed against the men, investigators said.