Attempted Oxycontin Robbery Lands Man Behind Bars

A 19-year-old man was arrested Friday night after attempting to rob a pharmacy on Santa Fe Drive, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

Alan Thomas Buckley allegedly walked into a around 8:30 p.m. and told pharmacy employees that he was committing a robbery and demanded Oxycontin, said sheriff’s Sgt. William Dreyer. Buckley was wearing a hooded sweatshirt that concealed part of his face, and used one hand to further conceal his face and the other to simulate that he had a weapon, according to Dreyer.

Employees believed that Buckley was armed and called 911, and deputies arrived at the pharmacy and set up a perimeter while the robbery was still taking place, according to Dreyer. The manager exited the store and advised deputies of the location and description of the suspect.

The building was evacuated of all customers and employees. When Buckley left through the front door, he saw deputies deployed in the parking lot and went back into the store and attempted to hide the stolen Oxycontin, according to Dreyer.

Verbal attempts were made to convince the suspect to exit the store, and after several minutes Buckley returned to the front door and complied with deputies’ commands. He was taken into custody without resisting, Dreyer said.

Buckley was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on three felony charges, and bail was set at $100,000. He has a court date scheduled for Tuesday.