Alleged robber linked to other cases
COEUR d'ALENE - The man arrested for Sunday night's pharmacy robbery in Coeur d'Alene has confessed to several such robberies in four states, including three in Kootenai County in the past month, police said.
Brian J. Lindsey, 25, Spokane Valley, was arrested after officers responded to a pharmacy robbery at Walgreens at 335 W. Appleway at 8:37 p.m. on Sunday. He was being held at the Kootenai County jail on a $110,000 bond Monday night.
Lindsey is also suspected of robbing the Shopko pharmacy in Coeur d'Alene and attempting to rob the Trading Co. Store pharmacy in Post Falls, both in early December.
His signature move in all three local cases was hopping the counter before demanding prescription medication.
Coeur d'Alene police Sgt. Christie Wood said detectives believe Lindsey is connected to robberies in Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and Washington.
"There's quite a bit of relief to get this guy out of society for a while," Wood said. "These robberies can be traumatizing to employees of pharmacies or supermarkets who have to deal with it."
During Sunday night's alleged incident at Walgreens, the suspect jumped the counter and handed the victim a note that stated he had a gun and a list of medications he wanted.
"The suspect grabbed the bag containing the controlled substances and then fled the store on foot north through the parking lot of Walgreens," a Coeur d'Alene Police press release states.
Through investigative leads, police located the suspect at an apartment complex in the 600 block of Wilbur Avenue. Lindsey was arrested without incident.
The multi-agency North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force assisted police with the case.
During the Dec. 12 robbery attempt at Trading Co. in Post Falls, Lindsey allegedly displayed a knife and demanded Oxycontin. The suspect wore a dark blue hoodie and a gray mask that covered his face. He fled the store empty-handed. The police search of the area included a K-9 unit, but was unable to locate the suspect.
In the Shopko case on Dec. 4, the suspect with a ski mask claimed he had a gun and ordered an employee to give him prescription medication. The suspect grabbed the medication and fled north through the parking lot on foot. A K-9 search was unable to locate the suspect.