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Pinellas Deputies: Charges Mount Against Drug Bandit

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TBO.com

Published: September 19, 2008

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  Patrick Papach

CLEARWATER - The charges against accused pharmacy robber Patrick Papach mounted today as Pinellas County sheriff's investigators formally filed

two additional counts of robbery with a firearm.

Papach, 33, was charged with one count of armed robbery by Hillsborough County authorities when he was arrested Thursday at his apartment, 1126 King Arthur Court, Dunedin.

Papach was jailed after authorities received an anonymous tip, sheriff's spokeswoman Marianne Pasha said.

Papach is accused of robbing St. George Pharmacy, 31201 U.S. 19 N., in Pinellas County on July 15 and a Target pharmacy a 900 East Lake Road, Oldsmar, on Aug. 29.

Deputies say Papach told them he robbed the drugstores.

Video of the St. George Pharmacy robbery shows Papach pointing a handgun at employees and a customer as he orders them to the floor, Pasha said.

Papach also fired a shot into the ceiling, Pasha said. After obtaining undisclosed types and amounts of drugs, he leaves through the front door, stopping briefly to retrieve a hat, Pasha said.

In the Target robbery, Papach entered the store and approached the pharmacy, Pasha said. He implied he had a weapon and showed a note to the pharmacist, demanding drugs. The pharmacist complied. He fled with an undisclosed amount of drugs, Pasha said.

Late Thursday, detectives executed a search warrant at Papach's residence and found a gun he told them he used in the robberies, they said. The firearm is described as a 9 mm Smith & Wesson with laser sight.

Authorities say Papach will be charged with other robberies in the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office's jurisdiction and one in the Tampa Police Department's jurisdiction.

Stay with TBO.com for updates.

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