An act of bravery from a York County resident helped the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office catch a Williamsburg man suspected of committing a string of robberies in lower York County over the past month.
Around 2:46 p.m. Wednesday, Charles Joseph Loher III, 36, robbed a Walgreens pharmacy in the 6600 block of George Washington Memorial Highway (Route 17), YPSO spokesperson Lt. Dennis Ivey said.
Loher implied he had a weapon, which was not found on his person during his arrest, and demanded prescription pain medication from a pharmacist.
As he attempted to flee the scene, a York County resident, who has chosen to remain anonymous, tackled Loher to the ground. Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Eric Hart was nearby and took the suspect into custody.
Upon further investigation, the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office determined there was probable cause to charge Loher with a string of similar drug store robberies in lower York County dating back to Dec. 21.
In each instance of the robberies, all of which took place off Route 17, an unidentified white male requested and stole prescription painkillers.
Loher has been charged with eight counts of robbery, four counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and four counts of possession of a schedule I or II narcotic without a prescription.
