A man who robbed the Madison Rite Aid pharmacy was busted shortly after he fled Saturday afternoon when he was spotted by Swedish First Hill security’s surveillance cameras in the area.

According to the SPD report on the incident, the man approached the counter of the Madison Rite Aid around 4 PM and demanded drugs. He told the pharmacist on duty that he had a gun and threatened to shoot, according to the report. The pharmacist handed over two bottles — one methadone, one Xanax — and the man fled the store.

Responding SPD officers searched the area and told nearby Swedish First Hill’s security team about the robbery. Here’s a note with details on what happened next in the incident shared with us by East Precinct commander Captain James Dermody. The Swedish security team sounds like it’s proud of lending a hand.

Captain Dermody.

I want to commend your officers. On Saturday, 1/29, at approximately 1600 hours there was a robbery at the Rite Aide on Madison and Summit across from our campus. In the true spirit of cooperation the responding police officers contacted my security officers advising them to be on the lookout for the suspect. Within seconds of the announcement my officers were able access our camera system and visually locate the suspect as he made his way through the main hospital from Madison out onto Broadway and Cherry where he made acquaintance with arriving SPD units and was taken into custody.

I know these types of incidents are probably common, day to day activities for the Seattle Police but it sure put a feather in our cap being able to our part in assisting to capture the suspect.

Martin Kimsey
Manager, Security Services
First Hill & Cherry Hill Campus

The man was arrested without incident but was sent to Harborview for medical treatment after he told officers he had already ingested some of the stolen drugs. No gun was found.

The man’s modus operandi and general description — older white male — match the description in another area pharmacy robbery at the Harvard Market Bartell’s in November.