Suspect in Scott City Medicap robbery arrested at Cape drugstore

Two weeks ago, Harrison S. Foster was arrested after allegedly using a fake bomb to rob the Medicap Pharmacy in Scott City with his younger brother.

Early Wednesday evening, Foster, released on bond, may have tried again, police say, this time entering the Medicap Pharmacy in Cape Girardeau, saying he had a bomb and demanding narcotics.

When officers responded around 5:30 p.m. to the drugstore at 1020 N. Kingshighway after reports of a robbery in progress, they found Foster, 20, of Auxvasse, Mo., alone in the pharmacy, said Cpl. Jason Selzer, spokesman for the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Officers immediately surrounded the building and closed off a section of Kingshighway to traffic as a precaution. They learned that the employees had all escaped through the back door of the pharmacy.

Police made contact with Foster by phone. Foster recognized one of the officers outside and agreed to speak with that officer, Selzer said. The officer entered the store and spoke with Foster for several minutes before he surrendered.

Witnesses later told police that Foster entered the pharmacy and said, "I have a bomb, get out," but no weapon was found, Selzer said.

Medical professionals evaluated Foster before he was taken to the Cape Girardeau Police Department in case he had taken any narcotics while alone in the drugstore, Selzer said.

Police have not released details about the type of narcotics the suspect demanded.

Foster was held at the city jail pending filing of formal charges, Selzer said, likely for attempted robbery.

Officers from the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted in the incident.

In the Scott City robbery, Foster and his brother, Hunter W. Foster, 18, of Auxvasse, were each charged with pharmacy robbery, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, making a terrorist threat and possession of a controlled substance. In that incident, which occurred May 14, the Fosters are accused of taking a duffel bag into the pharmacy and saying it contained a bomb. The bag was later found to have been filled with shoes.

The pharmacy robbery and armed criminal action charges each carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. The drug possession and terrorist threat charges are both class C felonies, which carry a maximum penalty of seven years. The weapon charge is a class D felony that can result in a prison term of four years.

They were arraigned May 20 in Scott County and released on reduced bond two days later after posting $5,000, or 10 percent, of the $50,000 bond.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245