Mary Jo Denton
Herald-Citizen Staff
COOKEVILLE -- A man wanted for allegedly robbing a drug store last week is now in jail.
Randall E. Crawford, 37, of Duke Road, Cookeville, turned himself in at the Cookeville Police station yesterday afternoon, according to Police Chief Bob Terry.
Detective Sgt. James Lane had already taken a warrant charging Crawford, whose family lives in Jackson County, with robbing the Walgreen's pharmacy on Willow Ave. in Cookeville on the morning of Jan. 11.
A man with a gun came into the store about 7:40 a.m. that day, walked to the pharmacy, pointed a gun at the pharmacist, and demanded a certain kind of drugs, police said. He was given a large quantity of the pills.
Later, detectives developed Randall E. Crawford as a suspect and began looking for him. On Tuesday, police issued a statement saying Crawford had been charged with the robbery and that he was being sought. They said he was considered "armed and dangerous."
On Tuesday afternoon, Crawford contacted the police and said he was coming to the station to turn himself in, Capt. Nathan Honeycutt said.
"And he did come to the station, and Detective Lane served the warrant on him."
That warrant alleges that Crawford committed aggravated robbery by "forcibly entering the pharmacy area of Walgreens and at gunpoint demanding drugs."
The warrant identifies the drug as Avinza, which is a pain medication that is commonly abused, according to Capt. Honeycutt.
The warrant also alleges that Crawford pointed the gun at the pharmacist and an assistant and told them not to call police "or he would kill them."
Crawford was booked into the Putnam jail yesterday. His bond was set at $50,000. He has a Feb. 12 court date.
Chief Terry today praised the work of the patrol officers and detectives who worked the case.
"This type of crime seems to be becoming more prevalent," Chief Terry said. "I am glad we were able to resolve this case as quickly as we did."
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