A 40-year-old man who robbed a downtown Portland pharmacy by making a bomb threat that prompted police to shut down Congress Street for several hours was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court in Portland to serve two years in prison.

Jason Campbell of Portland entered CVS pharmacy at 510 Congress St. on April 11 carrying a backpack that he told the pharmacist had a bomb and displayed what appeared to be a soda bottle with wires attached to it, according to court records.

Campbell then told the pharmacist to evacuate the store and close the gate at the front of the store. He demanded that the pharmacist give him opioid pain medications. Once he had the drugs, Campbell ran off, disposing of his outer clothing and backpack in a nearby trash can.

The Portland Police Department’s bomb squad closed Congress Street, between Brown and Casco streets, for 3½ hours after they found his backpack. The device was a backpack with a cellphone attached by wires and what appeared to be a plastic soda bottle containing liquid. Police determined that the objects were not explosive.

A store clerk recognized Campbell and police went to his home on Alder Street, where he was arrested.

Campbell pleaded guilty before Judge Jon Levy on May 15 to a robbery charge.

Scott Dolan can be reached at 791-6304 or at:

sdolan@pressherald.com

Twitter: @scottddolan


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