Gunman hits 2nd pharmacy in West St. Paul

Police suspect the same armed robber who struck a Target pharmacy in West St. Paul on Thursday evening hit again Friday at a nearby CVS pharmacy.

Police were called to the CVS at 1471 S. Robert St. at 6:15 p.m. Friday on a report of a man who approached the pharmacy, pulled out a black handgun and demanded prescription medications, according to a crime alert issued by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

The suspect fled in an unknown vehicle, and officers could not find him or the vehicle. Based on surveillance images, the suspect in the CVS robbery matched the description of the gunman who robbed the Target pharmacy Thursday and is believed to be the same man, West St. Paul police Sgt. John Hinderscheid said.

The Target robbery on Thursday prompted a lockdown of the store. That holdup occurred just down the street shortly before 6 p.m. at the SuperTarget at 1750 S. Robert St.

The man showed a gun at the pharmacy counter and demanded drugs, police said. He was given an undisclosed amount of narcotics.

A lockdown was put in place, but a search failed to find the man. Authorities later learned that he fled into the parking lot. Police Lt. Matt Swenke said Friday investigators were working with store security "to develop a comprehensive suspect description."

The robber is described as white, 5 foot 7 to 5 foot 10 inches tall, weighing 150 to 170 pounds, with round glasses, a black winter coat with hood, black ski mask, black gloves and pants that might be ski or wind pants, and white sneakers.

JOY POWELL and Paul Walsh