The Twin Falls Police Department took three people into custody who were believed to be involved in several pharmacy robberies in the City of Twin Falls.
On Thursday, Nov. 6 and Friday, Nov. 7, Twin Falls Police took Angelic Escobedo, 21, Bradley Holcomb, 20, and Brody Trout, 24, all three from Twin Falls, Idaho, into custody on charges related to their involvement in several pharmacy robberies.
At about 1:32 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, Twin Falls Police were dispatched to the Shopko pharmacy in the Magic Valley Mall at 1649 Pole Line Road East regarding a report of an attempted robbery. About 20 minutes later, police were dispatched to Walgreens at 1731 Washington Street North regarding a robbery.
In both cases an adult male entered the pharmacies and passed a note to the pharmacists demanding prescription medications that were controlled substances. Those medications included oxycodone, oxycontin, hydromorphone, and methadone. No weapon was displayed in either robbery. During the Shopko pharmacy robbery, the suspect was seen leaving the scene in a green Jeep Cherokee.
As part of the law enforcement partnership with local pharmacies, Twin Falls Police sent descriptions of the suspects and the vehicle to pharmacies throughout Twin Falls.
Then at 5:24 p.m. Twin Falls Police were dispatched to the Orchard Pharmacy inside Swensens Market located at 995 Washington Street North to report of suspicious individuals matching the description of the robberies earlier in the day. At Swensens, store employees reported that two individuals — a male and a female — entered the store and bought a box of syringes. The suspects left the store after making the purchase.
Store employees said the suspects' descriptions matched those of the suspects involved in the Shopko and Walgreen’s robberies. The suspects were also seen leaving Swensens in a green SUV that matched the description from the Shopko incident.
Officers recognized the descriptions provided by Shopko, Walgreens and Orchard pharmacies of Trout and Escobedo as suspects in prior investigations, and sought out the two suspects at their residence located 1166 Sunburst in Twin Falls. At the residence, officers stopped a vehicle leaving matching the suspects’ vehicle leaving the residence. Trout was taken into custody for possession of a concealed weapon. Escobedo was detained for questioning.
According to the affidavit, detectives interviewed both Trout and Escobedo and learned about their connection to the pharmacy robberies on Thursday. Through the course of the investigation, detectives learned that Holcomb was also involved in the robberies that occurred Thursday. In addition, detectives learned that all three may have been involved in other pharmacy robberies in Twin Falls.
At 2 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, detectives searched Holcomb’s house at 303 Washington Street North, where they found the grey hoodie sweatshirt that was believed to be worn during Thursday’s robbery. Officers also found 91 methadone pills that were consistent with the medications taken from the Walgreen robbery.
Escobedo is being held in the Twin Falls County Jail on two counts of criminal conspiracy and burglary. Trout is being charged with two counts of robbery, burglary, one attempted robbery, and three counts of criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, and possession of a controlled substance. Holcomb is charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, burglary, and possession of a controlled substance.
More information will be released as it becomes available.