Man charged in string of pharmacy robberies

A citywide operation has led to the arrest of a man in 10 pharmacy robberies in the Calgary area in the last month.

Nine pharmacies in Calgary and one in Okotoks were robbed by a man who threatened staff and demanded OxyContin, an addictive painkiller, between Sept. 28 and Oct. 27. In some cases, the suspect was masked and armed with a gun.

Cory Alan Sharlow, 31, of no fixed address, has been charged with 33 offences including robbery, possession of a weapon and having his face masked, police said on Monday.

The pharmacies targeted were:

• Braeside Pharmacy on Braeside Drive.
• Paragon Pharmacy on 14th Street S.W. twice.
• Paragon Pharmacy on Elbow Drive S.W.
• Paragon Pharmacy on Crowchild Trail.
• Britannia Pharmacy on 49th Avenue S.W.
• Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy on Crowfoot Crescent N.W. twice.
• Symons Valley IDA on Centre Street North.
• Rexall Drugs in Okotoks.

The suspect was arrested on Friday in the southeast, said police. The investigation continues and further charges are pending.