SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Sheriff Wendell Hall

Navarre Pharmacy Robbed: Suspect Apprehended by Employees

On 11/10/08 at approximately 0950 hours, Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to CVS Pharmacy located at 8422 Navarre Parkway in reference to robbery. Deputies were told that there was a suspect inside the store that was robbing the pharmacy and stealing the narcotics. When deputies arrived, they found that three CVS employees had the suspect physically restrained on the floor behind the pharmacy counter. The suspect was taken into custody by deputies. The head pharmacist told deputies that the suspect produced a note demanding oxycontin and stated that they had twenty seconds to comply with his demands. The suspect had his hands in his pockets at the time and did not display a weapon. After twenty seconds, the suspect jumped over the counter and demanded to know the location of the oxycontin. When the suspect bent over to retrieve the oxycontin, the head pharmacist grabbed him around the neck and began to struggle with him on the floor. Another pharmacist then assisted in trying to restrain the suspect. The store manager also came to their aid and helped in subduing the suspect. During the altercation, the bottles of oxycontin broke open and scattered on the floor. The suspect ingested 10 oxycontin during the struggle. The suspect was transported to Gulf Breeze Hospital to be treated for the ingestion of the narcotics. The head pharmacist was also transported to the hospital to be treated for unspecified injuries. The assisting pharmacist was treated at the scene for a hand injury. The store manager was not injured. The suspect was identified as Louis Michael Riccardi, 22 years old, from Fort Walton Beach. Riccardi (photo below) escaped from the Bridgeway treatment facility earlier in the day. The suspect has not been booked at the time of this release. He is being charged with robbery. Additional charges will follow. More information will be provided as soon as it becomes available.

Press Release By:

Sgt. Scott Haines

Media Relations Unit

(850) 981-2136 or shaines@srso.net