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Man used fake bomb in pharmacy robbery, police say

Pair accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of oxycodone

A man used a fake bomb and stole nearly $72,000 worth of oxycodone in a pharmacy robbery in Bristol over the weekend, police said.
A man used a fake bomb and stole nearly $72,000 worth of oxycodone in a pharmacy robbery in Bristol over the weekend, police said.
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Man used fake bomb in pharmacy robbery, police say
Pair accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of oxycodone
A man used a fake bomb and stole nearly $72,000 worth of oxycodone in a pharmacy robbery in Bristol over the weekend, police said.Click to watch News 9's coverage.Kevin Groesser, 54, was arrested hours after the robbery Sunday at a Rite Aid in Bristol. Police said he was wearing a bandanna on his face when he walked into the pharmacy."He had carried in a box and a bag, displayed it to the pharmacist and said it was an explosive bomb and it was going to go off," Chief Michael Lewis said.Lewis said the box actually contained nails and screws. Police said Groesser left with about 900 oxycodone pills with a street value of nearly $72,000 and got into a waiting car.Patrick Flood, 25, was the driver of the car, police said."The suspects in this case did give us some information to recover some of (the drugs), but they also stated they have given them to other people throughout the community in different counties," Lt. Timothy Woodward said.According to court paperwork, the pharmacist recognized Groesser as a regular customer. Police said they were also able to identify him with the help of store surveillance video. The two were arrested in Franklin three hours after the robbery.Groesser and Flood appeared in court Monday. Groesser asked that his bail be reduced, saying that he wasn't a flight risk because he lived in the town of Hill for decades."I've lived there for 30 years with my wife," he said. "I've never really been in trouble before."Flood said nothing during the arraignment. Police said he tried to get rid of some of the pills after he was arrested by throwing them into the toilet of the holding cell.The men are being held on bail and are scheduled to be back in court early next month.Police said they are continuing their effort to recover all of the pills.

A man used a fake bomb and stole nearly $72,000 worth of oxycodone in a pharmacy robbery in Bristol over the weekend, police said.

Click to watch News 9's coverage.

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Kevin Groesser, 54, was arrested hours after the robbery Sunday at a Rite Aid in Bristol. Police said he was wearing a bandanna on his face when he walked into the pharmacy.

"He had carried in a box and a bag, displayed it to the pharmacist and said it was an explosive bomb and it was going to go off," Chief Michael Lewis said.

Lewis said the box actually contained nails and screws. Police said Groesser left with about 900 oxycodone pills with a street value of nearly $72,000 and got into a waiting car.

Patrick Flood, 25, was the driver of the car, police said.

"The suspects in this case did give us some information to recover some of (the drugs), but they also stated they have given them to other people throughout the community in different counties," Lt. Timothy Woodward said.

According to court paperwork, the pharmacist recognized Groesser as a regular customer. Police said they were also able to identify him with the help of store surveillance video. The two were arrested in Franklin three hours after the robbery.

Groesser and Flood appeared in court Monday. Groesser asked that his bail be reduced, saying that he wasn't a flight risk because he lived in the town of Hill for decades.

"I've lived there for 30 years with my wife," he said. "I've never really been in trouble before."

Flood said nothing during the arraignment. Police said he tried to get rid of some of the pills after he was arrested by throwing them into the toilet of the holding cell.

The men are being held on bail and are scheduled to be back in court early next month.

Police said they are continuing their effort to recover all of the pills.