The Whitman County Sheriff’s Office released this report this afternoon.
Colfax WA – Around 630pm on Wednesday afternoon deputies were notified of a burglary in progress at the Pharmacy in St. John, WA.
The owner of the pharmacy was reporting an active break-in of the business at the time of the incident, based on a notification from the video surveillance system which had just been installed the prior week. This was the third time since late December the business had been broken into.
The suspect reportedly gained access to an area where the business kept its pain medication, taking an undisclosed number of pills. After the break-in, the suspect immediately left the scene on foot.
Deputies, working closely with the pharmacy owner and after viewing video footage of the break-in, were able to identify a possible suspect. That individual was identified as 43yoa Juan McSpadden of St. John, WA.
McSpadden was contacted early Thursday morning by deputies on a separate charge of Driving While License Suspended and after some questioning admitted to his involvement in the burglary of the pharmacy. McSpadden is cooperating with law enforcement at this time and has assisted in the recovery of the stolen medications.
McSpadden was booked into the Whitman County Jail on charges of 2nd Degree Burglary, Theft, Malicious Mischief and Driving with a Suspended License. His first appearance is scheduled for Thursday afternoon in Whitman County Superior Court.
