ROCKLAND — A man wielding a machete robbed a Rockland pharmacy this morning, then took some of the stolen painkillers before police arrived to arrest him.
Joshua Powell, 23 of Rockland, jumped the counter and threatened workers at the Rite Aid pharmacy with a machete, demanding drugs, said Deputy Chief Wally Tower. The staff gave the man some oxycondone, a prescription painkiller.
Powell then apparently remained in the store, taking some of the medicine, before six officers with the Rockland Police Department – including the chief and deputy chief – responded. With guns drawn, they ordered him to drop the machete, which he did.
Nobody was injured in the incident.
Powell was charged with robbery and was taken to Penobscot Bay Medical Center for evaluation before being taken to Knox County Jail, Tower said.
Powell has pending drug charges with the department, Tower said.
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