WINSLOW — A man robbed the Rite Aid pharmacy on China Road just after noon Sunday, making off with Oxycodone and methadone, according to police.

“He presented a note and said he had a gun but did not display one,” Officer Linda Smedberg said at the scene.

She and Sgt. Josh Veilleux would not reveal the amount of prescription drugs taken in the robbery.

“The pharmacist handed him the drugs the first time but he (the robber) said, ‘No, I want more,'” Veilleux said. “The pharmacist went back and got more and gave the pills to him and he took off.”

The robber was described as having a medium build and between 5 feet, 6 inches and 5 feet, 8 inches tall. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and tan or khaki pants, possibly Carhartt brand, Smedberg said. They were not cargo-type pants, she said. He also was wearing heavy Thinsulate gloves, possibly with some gray on them, and large dark sunglasses, she added.

He reportedly left the store through the front door, crossed the parking lot, cut through some bushes and ran up China Road and onto Garland Road, she said.

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State police Trooper Matt Casavant arrived with his German shepherd dog, Marcello, who followed a scent on Garland Road, just north of Agway.

“The dog tracked to where witnesses said they last saw him (the robber),” Officer Haley Fleming said.

Fleming and Waterville police officers Dennis Picard and Adam Sirois also searched the area of Garland Road. Sirois blocked off part of Garland Road except to motorists going to Agway or to area homes.

Picard, carrying a rifle, searched the area behind Agway, Central Maine Equipment and Mid-Maine Internal Medicine on Garland Road before Casavant arrived. Picard checked in and around buildings and vehicles along the road.

Rite Aid employees posted “Closed” signs on the store’s doors until about 2:30 p.m., when the business reopened.

Detective Gina Henderson also was working on the case Sunday.

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Anyone who may have knowledge of the robbery or saw anything is asked to call police at 872-5215.

A witness who spoke to police Sunday in the store’s parking lot but asked not to be identified said he was on his way to the gym and saw a man running away from the store carrying a bag. The man sprinted through the bushes onto China Road, he said.

A Rite Aid employee said the business had no comment on the robbery.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com


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