Robbery Suspect In Police Custody

Thursday, May 17th 2007, 10:27 am

By: News On 6

A man accused of brutally attacking a pharmacist and a technician with a hammer, is off the streets. The suspect turned himself in Thursday morning. It's been a tough week for the victims, their families and the town of Chelsea. Many were on edge after a man walked into the town's only pharmacy, demanded drugs and money and then beat two people who worked there. The News On 6â€™s Latoya Silmon reports now, some say they can rest easy.

After four days of searching, Steven Pierce is in police custody. Chelsea police credit teamwork and the suspect's father who they say convinced Pierce to turn himself in.

â€œIt's good to have him off the streets. A lot of people where scared,â€ said Chelsea Police Chief Kenny Kelsey.

Especially those who work at Chelsea Family Pharmacy.

â€œI think everybody is a little gun shy,â€ said pharmacy owner Drew Turner.

Police say, on Monday, Pierce walked into the store armed with a gun and a hammer demanding drugs and money.

"They did everything he asked,â€ said Turner. â€œThey gave him the drugs, then he attacked them brutally, and you know there's no sense in that."

Even though the store is open for business, the staff says it's still reeling from the fact that two of their own were attacked with a hammer.

â€œIf anybody didn't deserve it, it was those two,â€ Turner said. â€œThey're just wonderful people.â€

Turner says Pierce may have wanted revenge because he was banned from the store. Whatever the reason, he's just glad that two of his employees are recovering, and the person he thinks is responsible won't be back anytime soon.

Pierce is charged with two felony counts of robbery with a weapon and two felony counts of assault and battery by means likely to produce death.

Watch the video: Suspected Pharmacy Attacker Turns Himself In

Related stories:

05/14/2007 Robbery Suspect Sought In Hammer Attack

5/15/2007- Pharmacy Robber Sought

5/16/2007 - Suspect In Pharmacy Attack Arrested