Artist’s rendering of robbery suspect
Pharmacist at Katsin’s assaulted; suspects fled in a blue van
BY SANDI CARPELLO
Staff Writer
RED BANK — Armed bandits emptied the cash register at Katsin’s Pharmacy, held two female employees at gunpoint and assaulted the male pharmacist on duty, according to borough police.
Clad in sunglasses and a fisherman’s hat, a black male walked into the Shrewsbury Avenue drugstore at around 8 p.m. on Sept. 23.
After browsing around the store for several minutes, he approached the back register with some items for purchase.
As the sales clerk proceeded to ring him up, the suspect drew a handgun and demanded that the two employees empty the cash register.
During that time, two other black males had entered the store and locked the front door.
As the first suspect removed the money from the back register, another of the men took the pharmacist into the rear stock room and assaulted him by striking him in the head with a handgun.
The third suspect, who was wearing a ski mask, remained at the front of the store and displayed a handgun, ensuring that neither employee called the police or left the store.
After the robbery all three suspects fled the store and entered a two-door, blue van that was waiting on Catherine Street.
The getaway vehicle was last seen traveling on Catherine Street toward Leighton Avenue.
The pharmacist was treated and released from Riverview Medical Center for lacerations to his head and face.
Borough police Detective Robert Clayton and investigator Eliot Ramos are investigating the incident, according to police Sgt. Steve McCarthy.
The first suspect is described as a black male, 45-50 years of age, between 5 feet 5 and inches and 5 feet 8 inches, and weighing about 175 pounds. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a blue denim jacket with visible stitching on the front, sunglasses, and a cream-colored fisherman’s hat with a red band around it.
Suspect No. 2 is described as a black male, late 30s, between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet tall with a thin build. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a blue jacket, and a blue baseball hat.
Suspect No. 3 is described as a black male, late 30s to late 40s, about 6 feet tall and 180 pounds. Last seen wearing a blue one-piece jumpsuit with drops of white paint on it and tan work boots. This suspect was also wearing a blue knit ski mask with holes for the mouth and eyes.
Anyone with information concerning this incident is encouraged to contact the Red Bank Police Detective Divi-sion, at (732) 530-2719 or, if they wish to remain anonymous, call the Red Bank Police Tip Line at (732) 450-9704.