Police arrest 5 in robbery of Royal Oak pharmacy

ROYAL OAK — At approximately 9:35 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5, the Royal Oak Police Department received a 911 call regarding a robbery in progress at Dynamic Care Pharmacy, 4119 W. 13 Mile Road, east of Greenfield Road.

According to police, the 911 caller stated that three men wearing dark clothing and black ski masks entered the business and immediately demanded controlled substances. The suspects allegedly placed prescription pills into boxes and fled on foot from the business.

“The 911 call came at a little bit of a delay at first from the pharmacy,” Lt. Al Carter, of the Royal Oak Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, said in an Aug. 15 phone interview. “(Within minutes, police officers) all arrived and set up a perimeter, and the Oak Park K-9 officer assisted us, as ours is not on patrol yet.”

Carter said an undercover officer who is in the Troy Special Investigations Unit was able to “do some digging and some investigation as well, and it wasn’t long before four of the five (suspects) were in custody.”

“We ended up getting that fifth person, too, within a matter of four hours, which is unheard of,” he said. “We were very proud of the hard work of the officers and the other departments that assisted us.”

Carter said three suspects “stormed” the pharmacy, indicated that they were “taking prescription pills,” and asked where they were.

“There wasn’t a weapon seen or implied. You don’t need that for strong-arm (robbery). You just have to place that fear into (the employees) to comply,” he said. “Unfortunately, there were three employees in the store (during the robbery), but they were uninjured and unharmed. Thankfully, there were no customers or anybody (in the store at the time).”

He said the crime was “very bold,” as it was committed during the day, but that police have seen similar crimes in nearby cities in which criminals target pharmacies to obtain prescription pills to “sell on the street or exchange for other drugs.”

“They had, like, 10 boxes. They took various amounts of pills from the back. They went ahead and just grabbed what they needed to grab,” Carter said. “It was indicated that one of the employees hit the panic button, which startled them, so they fled with whatever they had at that time.”

Royal Oak officers reviewed security cameras and observed the three suspects get into a red Chevrolet Trailblazer, which was occupied by two additional suspects, according to police. Carter said police located four of the suspects at a house in Detroit and a fifth suspect in Redford, and police impounded the Trailblazer, which contained the stolen prescription pills.

Four of the five suspects have criminal histories, and all five are currently lodged at the Oakland County Jail, according to police.

On Monday, Aug. 8, 44th District Court Judge Derek Meinecke arraigned all five suspects on three counts of unarmed robbery, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison, and one count of possession of a controlled substance, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Laron Kemail-Pierre Woods, 29, of Redford, had eight outstanding misdemeanor warrants at the time of his arrest, as well as convictions for driving while license suspended and disturbing the peace, according to police. His bond was set at $250,000.

Jonathan M. Epstein, Woods’ defense attorney, said in an Aug. 18 phone interview that his client “has tremendous family support” and is a father.

“He’s a very likable guy,” Epstein said. “We filed a motion with Judge Meinecke to reduce and modify the bond. We’re offering the court many assurances that he would abide by bond conditions.”

Epstein said the bond reduction would be up to the judge, but he hopes that Meinecke considers Woods’ “family circumstances.”

On Aug. 19, Meinecke bound over Woods to the Oakland County Circuit Court as charged. Woods is due back in Circuit Court for an arraignment Aug. 30. In an Aug. 22 phone interview, Epstein said he was “disappointed the judge denied our motions for the reduction of the bond, but we understand his rationale.” Epstein said that he is going to appeal the issue at the Circuit Court.

Broderick Deonne Gibson, 26, of Detroit, has 16 outstanding misdemeanor warrants, as well as convictions for larceny in a building and operating without a license on person, according to police. His bond was set at $250,000. He is due back at the 44th District Court for a probable cause conference Sept. 9.

Douglas D. Hampton, Gibson’s defense attorney, did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Tejaan Tupree Simmons, 23, of Redford, has an outstanding misdemeanor warrant and a conviction for operating while impaired, according to police. His bond was set at $250,000. He is due back at the 44th District Court for a probable cause conference Sept. 9.

Antonio Douglas Tuddles, Simmons’ defense attorney, said his client was “merely present at one incident and he was taken home.” Tuddles said Simmons graduated from high school, owns a home in Redford and that “it was not his intention to be involved in anything.”

Jonal Thomas Lake, 26, of Redford, has eight outstanding warrants and a conviction for fleeing and eluding, according to police. His bond was set at $250,000. He is due back at the 44th District Court for a probable cause conference Sept. 9.

Randall P. Upshaw, Lake’s defense attorney, did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Anthony Eugene Rogers, 31, of Inkster, does not have a criminal history, according to police. His bond was set at $100,000. On Aug. 19, Meinecke bound over Rogers to the Oakland County Circuit Court as charged. Rogers is due back in Circuit Court for arraignment Aug. 30.

Melissa Sue Krauskopf, Rogers’ defense attorney, did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

For more information, call the Royal Oak Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division at (248) 246-3456.