By BILL CHAISSON
[email protected]
CLAREMONT — On Nov. 30, at 9:45 a.m., the Claremont Police Department responded to a panic alarm and reported armed robbery at the Sugar River Pharmacy located on Pleasant Street in Claremont. Pharmacy staff told police that a male subject entered the pharmacy, displayed a weapon, and left with a quantity of prescription drugs. Patrol officers responding to the scene established a perimeter and searched the area with the assistance of the Claremont Police K9 Unit.
Due to the pharmacy’s proximity to Stevens High School and the fact that the subject was armed, local schools were advised to temporarily “shelter in place” until it was determined that the area was secure. Once the Patrol Division and K9 Unit determined that it was safe to do so, the schools were notified that theycould lift the “shelter in place.” At no time was there any specific threat to a school.
Following the initial response, the Criminal Investigations Division began investigating several leads and identified a possible suspect. Detectives executed a search warrant and subsequently arrested Brian Mahoney, 42, of Claremont.
Mahoney is charged with one count of robbery, a Class A felony. He is currently being held without bail at the Sullivan County House of Corrections pending arraignment in Sullivan Superior Court on Dec. 3.
Investigation into this matter is ongoing, and further charges are anticipated. Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to call Claremont Police Detective Casey Piehl at (603) 542-7010 or e-mail [email protected].
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.