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Charleston police arrest 4 Indiana men after ‘dramatic’ armed robbery

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Four Indiana men were arrested a few minutes after an armed robbery Saturday morning at a CVS Pharmacy in Charleston, police said.

Investigators believe Julius Finch, 31, Darrell Lamont Harris, 28, Marquis Smith, 25, James Brown, 23, all of Indianapolis, targeted Charleston and the CVS on Oakwood Road for their crime, according to Charleston Chief of Detectives Lt. Steve Cooper.

“The CVS itself was targeted by them. They had picked that particular pharmacy and they did rob it,” Cooper said. “Unfortunately for them, police were quick to respond and actually did converge on them just a few miles from the robbery.”

There was a brief pursuit on MacCorkle Ave near the Southside Bridge before the arrests were made. The robbery took place shortly after 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The arrests were made at around 11:00 a.m.

Cooper said three of the men went into the pharmacy while the fourth stayed in the van as the getaway driver. He said they wore disguises including wigs. He said it was a dramatic scene inside the pharmacy.

“There were customers being held at gunpoint and the robbery taking place at the pharmacy (counter),” Cooper said.

Police found what Cooper called “significant evidence” in the van. The men allegedly stole pills and cash. They also took a customer’s wallet and cell phone, Cooper said.

There were no injuries in the pharmacy.

Police did get a break in the case but Cooper said he could not discuss it publicly at this time. Investigators do have a strong case, he said.

“The fact that they were captured so quickly and that we have a significant amount of evidence–that’s really good for the charge, that’s really good for the case and that’s really bad for the suspects,” he said.

All four men are charged with first degree robbery. They are scheduled to be video arraigned Saturday night.





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