New Photos Released in Armed Robbery Investigation
By Wendy Osher
Maui police released surveillance images today of a suspect wanted for the armed robbery of the pharmacy at the Longs Drugs store at Kulamalu on Wednesday, June 17, 2015.
The incident was reported at 8:12 p.m. at the store located at 55 Kiopaʻa Street in Kula.
Police say the male suspect pictured in the images was able to flee the scene with “a fair amount” of Oxycodone pills and was last seen walking out the front door towards Kula Highway.
In an earlier report, police said the suspect “jumped over the counter into the pharmacy area, where several workers were.”
Police say that at the time of the incident, the suspect was wearing a hoodie, gloves and covered his face.
He is described as an adult male in his 20s to early 30s, standing 5’4″ to 5’6″ tall, weighing 130 to 150 pounds with dark hair and a dark complexion.
The weapon used was described as a “black semi auto type” handgun.
Anyone who is able to identify the male suspect is asked to contact Detective Gordon Sagun with the Maui Police Department Criminal Investigation Division by calling (808) 244-6434.
Police advise that if the suspect is seen, they should not be approached, and the public should not take any action that could put them at risk. The suspect is considered to be armed and dangerous.
The incident comes on the heels of a similar report on Feb. 2, 2015, in which a male suspect jumped over pharmacy counter at the Longs Drugs store in Kulamalu brandishing a black handgun. According to earlier reports, the man pointed the gun at pharmacists and demanded “oxys” (Oxycodone).
Three days later, police arrested suspect John Naauao Jr., 28, of Kula, and charged him with first degree robbery in connection to the Feb. 2nd incident.
At the time, a Maui pharmacist who requested anonymity said, “A few Maui doctors have created a large number of prescription narcotic addicts who will become increasingly desperate to get their fix. This puts all of our pharmacy employees at risk. This is a very serious problem on Maui.”