Officers capture pharmacy robbers after multi-state chase, police say

Four men were arrested after they stole drugs from a Lewes pharmacy, then led officers on a chase into Maryland early Friday, police say. 

Steve T. Gantt, 25, of Washington, D.C., Earic Lewis, 24, of D.C., Antonio Jackson, 32, of Roswell, Georgia, and Daniel Smith, 20, of D.C., were arrested after crashing their vehicle in Maryland, Delaware State Police said. 

At about 2:08 a.m. Friday, troopers were dispatched to the Walgreens Pharmacy at Five Points Square for a report of a robbery. They found that two of the men had entered the pharmacy and jumped over the counter, while the other two served as lookouts, police said. One of the men ordered the pharmacist to unlock the safes, then they fled with Oxycodone, liquid promethazine and codeine, police said.

Patrol officers saw the fleeing vehicle and gave chase with the help of an aviation unit, police said. The vehicle crossed into Maryland, where Maryland State Police took up the chase. The driver eventually crashed into a fence, and the suspects fled on foot. They were arrested after a brief chase, police said. 

During the chase, the suspects threw a duffle bag out of the vehicle, which was later found with the stolen medication inside, police said. 

The four men were in custody in Maryland on felony charges related to the pursuit. They have warrants for their arrest in Delaware for second-degree robbery and second-degree conspiracy. 

Police are still investigating, and ask anyone with information is asked to contact Troop 4 Major Crimes Unit, Detective D. Cathell at (302) 752-3793, Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333 or report via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.