Walgreens Pharmacy Robbery Ends After Police Chase

MELBOURNE, Florida -- Just prior to 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Melbourne Police officers responded to a Walgreens located at the corner of Eau Gallie Boulevard and Wickham Road in Melbourne, Florida for an armed robbery. 

It was reported to police that a man, wearing a mask that covered a portion of his face, had made his way into the pharmacy area, brandished a knife, and demanded prescription pain medication from the pharmacists.   Once the suspect obtained an undisclosed amount of the medication, he left the store.  No one was injured during the robbery. 

As the robbery call was broadcast over police radio, Officer Jim O’Byrne was in the immediate area and observed the suspect leaving the business.  Officer O’Byrne confronted the suspect who then ran to a 1997 green Chevy pick-up truck parked at a nearby business.  The suspect drove from the scene and officers pursued his vehicle. The pursuit lasted a short period until the suspect’s vehicle crashed into a ditch near the intersection of Turtlemound Road and Carolwood Drive. 

Police say that the suspect, 46-year-old Wayne Parker, Jr., was taken into custody and evidence from the robbery was recovered from his vehicle. No other vehicles were involved in the crash. Parker, Jr. was transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries sustained in the crash. Once released, he will be transported to the Brevard County Jail on multiple felony charges, police say.