Police Give Chase, Apprehend Armed Robbery Suspect

By Kimberly Lenz Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Count Christopher Shane Hamilton among the grateful after James City County police apprehended a suspect in the armed robbery of a pharmacy Tuesday around noon.

While grateful, the 29-year-old Hamilton is also the accused. Police say he entered the Olde Towne Pharmacy off Longhill Road near Route 199 and ordered the pharmacist to give him OxyContin, a powerful narcotic pain reliever, while holding three other employees at gunpoint.

Witnesses reported seeing the suspect fleeing from the pharmacy parking lot in a silver Jeep headed on Olde Towne Road toward Richmond Road.

Responding officers spotted the vehicle, and pursued the suspect eastbound on Richmond Road, then onto Ironbound Road and into the Oxford section of New Town. Hamilton, who lives on Raleigh Street in Williamsburg, was taken into custody without incident. A fully loaded, .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.

According to a James City Police spokesman, Hamilton had this to say after police took him into custody: "Thanks for catching me." Police also said Hamilton had swallowed some of the stolen prescription drugs during the pursuit. He was taken to Williamsburg Sentara Hospital for treatment.

Police charged Hamilton with robbery, four counts of abduction, five counts of use of a firearm during the commission of a felony and evading and eluding police.

Hamilton is also the suspect in the April 18 armed robbery of the Rite Aid Pharmacy in the 1300 block of Jamestown Road. Police said Hamilton faces the following charges in that incident: robbery, abduction, two counts of use of a firearm during the commission of a felony and assault and battery.