Lodi police respond to pharmacy robbery, shootings, stabbing
It’s been another busy weekend for the Lodi Police Department, culminating with a robbery at the Walgreens pharmacy on Ham Lane on Sunday in which narcotic medications were stolen, according to Lt. Fernando Martinez.
“At approximately 7 p.m. on Dec. 3, we received reports that two black male adults had jumped over the counter and demanded medications such as promethazine, codeine and norcos. The suspects were described as being in their early 20s, wearing hoodies and surgical masks,” Martinez said.
The suspects made off with unknown quantities of prescription narcotic drugs and no weapons were reported as having been used, although the investigation is still ongoing.
This is not the first robbery to take place as the pharmacy this year, with a similar robbery occurring in September. Lodi police responded to a variety of other incidents over the weekend:
• Earlier on Sunday afternoon, Lodi police responded to a call of a firearm discharge on the 2600 block of Paradise Drive, arriving to find a 97-yearold male with dementia inside his residence with a firearm. As the male had difficult moving and communicating, and unsure if the discharge was intentional or accidental, officers treated the situation as though the male had barricaded himself inside the residence, although Martinez explained that there was no actual barricade.
With no injuries reported, the male was transported to the hospital and later released with no charges filed.
• Officers also responded to a shooting on the 300 block of East Locust Street at approximately 2 p.m. on Saturday, arriving to find a 16-year-old male with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound in his upper right arm. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Although the investigation is still ongoing, Martinez said that the victim was involved in a disturbance that may have lead to the shooting.
• Officers also responded to a bar fight at Garry’s Lounge on School Street at approximately 1:12 a.m. on Saturday, where a male victim had suffered two non-life-threatening stab wounds when a large fight that started inside the bar had spilled out onto the sidewalk where the victim, who was not believed to have been involved, was standing, according to Martinez.
One suspect punched the victim repeatedly, while another suspect removed the victim’s knife from a sheath on the victim’s belt before stabbing him twice in the back, Martinez said. The victim was later transported to the hospital. No arrests have yet been made, and the investigation is ongoing.
• Officers Jordan Lado and Kris Valencia contacted Edward Garcia, 43, on the 600 block of East Victor Road at approximately 1:02 a.m. on Saturday, after he was suspected of selling drugs. The officers conducted a search and located 19.5 ounces of methamphetamine, packaging, a small digital scale and a can of pepper spray, police said. Garcia was booked into Lodi City Jail on suspicion of possession a controlled substance for sale and unlawful use or possession of tear gas.
• A mother and her son were arrested in connection with a Friday assault case, as well. April Adler, 37, was driving her vehicle on the 800 block of Stockton Street at approximately 5 p.m. on Friday when, according to Martinez, she spotted her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend, with whom she allegedly had an ongoing feud, in another vehicle. Adler’s son, who is a minor, allegedly fired a BB gun through the victim’s open window and struck her in the torso, according to Martinez.
The victim complained of pain, but had no further injuries, Martinez said. Adler and her son were arrested by officer Michael Hitchcock.
Adler was booked into Lodi City Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, while her son was booked into San Joaquin Juvenile Hall on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.
• A vehicle in the northbound lane of South Hutchins Street, near Alicante Drive, reportedly struck a 53year-old female bicyclist on Friday afternoon, according to Martinez. The victim was transported to the hospital in serious condition. There were no updates on her condition as of Monday evening.
The driver stopped at the scene, according to Martinez, and his or her identity has not been released. Drugs or alcohol are not believed to have been a facor, Martinez said.