Four men arrested in connection with heists
Four New York City residents are charged in connection with two pharmacy heists, the Hyde Park police said.
HYDE PARK, N.Y. >> Four New York City residents are behind bars charged in connection with two pharmacy heists last week, the Hyde Park police said Monday.
Police are investigating possible connections to similar larcenies in surrounding areas, they said, including one Friday in the city of Poughkeepsie that remains under investigation.
James Cogdell, 27, of New York, and Arturo C. Diaz Jr., 26, Ruben F. Rivera Jr., 30, and Robert A. Joyner, 29, of the Bronx, were arrested by Hyde Park police Friday afternoon and were all charged in connection with burglaries at two pharmacies. They were each charged with the felony of grand larceny and the misdemeanors of petit larceny and conspiracy.
At about 11:50 a.m. Friday, police were called by an employee at the CVS pharmacy, 4246 Albany Post Road, reporting a group of males had entered the store, loaded up multiple bags of merchandise and left without paying for them.
The employee said one of the men dropped a bag full of merchandise while fleeing the pharmacy.
Hyde Park police, Dutchess County Sheriff’s deputies and village of Rhinebeck police began searching the area, according to a press release.
While searching, Hyde Park police received a call from the Rite Aid pharmacy at 1 Crum Elbow Road reporting a similar incident, police said.
The men are accused of stealing about $250 worth of condoms and Ensure at CVS and, at Rite Aid, they are accused of stealing about $1,400 worth of headphones, earbuds and Rogaine, police said.
A vehicle matching the description provided by a caller was found by two Hyde Park officers and stopped on North Quaker Lane, police said.
Det. Jason Ruscillo said the suspects’ car has not been searched pending receipt of a search warrant, but said many of the missing items were “in plain view.”
Police said Cogdell, who initially refused to give police his name, was found to have an outstanding warrant with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority police in New York City.
After their arraignment, Cogdell was sent to the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail, Diaz was jailed in lieu $5,000 bail, Rivera was held in lieu of $20,000 bail and Joyner was jailed in lieu of $5,000 bail.