GRAVETTE — GWith his son ordered to the floor and threatened with a gun, Gravette pharmacist Ken Austin did what any parent would do - what law officials recommend. He complied with the request of the man in black who demanded narcotics.
The lone white male, dressed almost entirely in black, entered the Austin Drug on Gravette Main Street just before closing time Monday.
According to Austin, the man walked to the prescription counter and demanded drugs, specifically oxycodone. “I thought he was kidding,” Austin said, but it was quickly evident he wasn’t. When Austin said he didn’t have any, the man ordered Nick Austin, the pharmacist’s son, to the floor. Keeping his hand in the pocket of the black hooded sweatshirt, the man, described as in his 20s, threatened the young man, a senior at Gravette High School who helps his dad in the drug store after school.
“When he threatened him, I went to where the drugs are kept and handed them to the man,” Austin said. The man immediately left the store.
Two customers were in the building at the time. They were not threatened and both, Amy Porter and Beth Austin, confirmed what had happened so quickly. They were shaken up by the ordeal but were able to supply officers with descriptions and information about the incident.
“I couldn’t see his face. It was covered with a black mask. Only his eyes were showing,” Porter said.
Austin, no relation to the store owner, echoed the description of the man. “He had been seen loitering on Main Street earlier,” she said, “But we didn’t think anything about it.”
Another witness, a young man, said “I got a glimpse of the man (without the mask). He had reddish hair and a scruffy beard.” He was described as about 5’8” tall weighed about 200 pounds, and was wearing all-black, loose fitting clothing with possibly some tie-dye spots. Besides the black hood, his face, when he entered the store, was covered with a mask with only his eyes visible.
The robber didn’t demand money or anything except oxycodone, Austin said.
According to Gravette Police Officer Chuck Skaggs, “The man reportedly left on foot, headed east on Main Street.”
Gravette officers, aided by deputies from the sheriff’s office and nearby police departments, used a dog in an attempt to track the suspect’s route of escape. Nearby buildings and possible hiding places were searched and area residents were advised of the incident. A trooper with the Arkansas State Police also assisted in the investigation.
The robber matched the description and method of operation reported in other pharmacy robberies, or attempted robberies, in the two-county area in recent months. Most have involved narcotics used to treat pain.
Gravette Main Street was partially blocked by law enforcement vehicles for some time Monday night. Customers at nearby restaurants mingled and traded stories, most of which matched the description of the robber whose image was captured on a video from a nearby store.
News, Pages 1 on 01/19/2011