AUGUSTA — Police say an Augusta man is in custody in connection with a pair of robberies Tuesday at two Augusta pharmacies.
Dominic J. Pomerleau, 21, was taken into custody early Wednesday and was placed on a probation hold, said Augusta Police Deputy Chief Jared Mills.
“Once the investigation is complete we anticipate that Mr. Pomerleau will be formally charged with both robberies,” Mills said.
Mills said Augusta police, with assistance from the FBI, identified Pomerleau as the person believed to responsible for the robberies.
A robbery and a robbery attempt Tuesday night both targeted Rite Aid pharmacies.
The robbery attempt occurred at the Rite Aid at 2007 North Belfast Ave. at 5:40 p.m. Police said a man entered the store and walked to the pharmacy counter, where he presented a threatening note demanding prescription medication.
However, he ran off almost immediately and without taking anything, according to a news release from Mills.
The suspect was described as being 5-feet-8-inches to 5-feet-9-inches tall with tattoos on his neck.
About 15 minutes later, the Rite Aid pharmacy at 83 Hospital St. was robbed by a man matching that description. No weapon was displayed at either pharmacy, although the use of one was threatened.
The robber obtained prescription medication from the Hospital Street Rite Aid.
Mills said calls from the public helped identify Pomerleau.
“It is because of everyone’s help that we were able to apprehend Mr. Pomerleau in such a timely fashion,” Mills said.
The Tuesday night incidents were the latest robberies of pharmacies in recent months.
The Rite Aid pharmacy in Manchester was the first to be robbed in the Augusta area this year and the second time that pharmacy had been robbed since 2011. Thomas Bourque, 31, of Belgrade, who was sought in that Aug. 3 robbery, turned himself in Friday after going to his attorney’s office.
Pharmacies in Randolph and Gardiner also were robbed recently.
No suspect has been caught in the Aug. 18 robbery of the Community Pharmacy inside Goggin’s IGA on Water Street in Randolph, but Gardiner police arrested Jesse Mansir, 31, of Randolph, nine hours after he allegedly robbed the Rite Aid on Spring Street on Aug. 21.
In October 2012, a 19-year-old Augusta man robbed the Rite Aid pharmacy on North Belfast Avenue, then barricaded himself in the store’s bathroom in order to use the drugs. Police broke into the bathroom and arrested him.
It was the third time that year that particular store had been targeted by robbers.
Last November, Ryan J. McLaughlin, 26, of Gardiner, robbed the Osco Pharmacy inside the Shaw’s supermarket on Western Avenue twice in two days. He pleaded guilty in federal court in April to two counts of interfering with commerce by robbery and faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count. He has not yet been sentenced.
Craig Crosby can be contacted at 621-5642 or at ccrosby@centralmaine.com
Twitter: @CraigCrosby4
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