Walgreens armed robbery suspect denied reduction on $1M bond
Patrick D. Johnson accused of stealing money, oxycodone on Sept. 2
A man accused in the armed robbery of narcotics and cash from a Walgreens pharmacy in Hazel Park was denied a lower bond Tuesday.
The suspect, Patrick D. Johnson, 33, of Hazel Park was before Hazel Park 43rd District Judge Brian Hartwell for a brief hearing in the Sept. 2 holdup inside the pharmacy at 1843 E. Eight Road.
Defense attorney Delphia Burton said Johnson’s bond is excessive and unsuccessfully sought to have it reduced to $100,000.
Johnson has been employed for the last four years with a trucking company, she said.
“He’s resided in Hazel Park for some time, has a 2-year-old son and an 8-year-old stepdaughter,” Burton told the court. “He does suffer from anxiety and depression, which may have contributed to his mood” the day of the robbery
Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Micah Wallace objected to any bond reduction. He said Johnson stole money and oxycodone, a powerful opioid painkiller, while brandishing a handgun and threatened to kill a Walgreens employee if he wasn’t given all the cash.
Wallace cited Johnson’s criminal record, which includes being charged with a home invasion as a juvenile, and arrested for assault with intent to murder, though the case was dropped.
Johnson’s criminal history includes convictions for carjacking and felony firearm charges in Wayne County Circuit Court.
He was released from prison in 2019 after serving 11 years, according to Michigan Department of Corrections records.
“The defendant has a long-term problem with taking weapons and pointing them at people,” Wallace said.
Hartwell noted that a pretrial services report on Johnson recommends he not be released on bond.
Johnson’s bond is within the judicial guidelines for someone involved in two or more violent felonies in the past two years, Hartwell said, and ordered the suspect’s bond remain at $1 million.
In the Walgreen’s case, Johnson is charged with armed robbery, punishable by up to life in prison, two felony firearm counts, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Hazel Park police said they arrested Johnson the same day he robbed the Walgreens pharmacy after an officer recognized him in surveillance video of the holdup.
Inside the store, Johnson pulled out a black handgun, jumped over the pharmacy counter and demanded all the Percocet pills and cash, police said.
Police said they recovered all the stolen drugs, cash and the handgun, and Johnson gave a full confession.
The suspect is due back in Hazel Park court for his probable cause conference — which was adjourned Tuesday — at 1 p.m. Sept. 28.