A 45-year-old North Andover man was charged last week in federal court for being a felon in possession of a gun he allegedly using to rob a Danvers pharmacy last month of prescription drugs
Gareth Francis was first arrested on state charges after running from a CVS Pharmacy in Danvers. He was charged with robbery interfering with interstate commerce and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to prosecutors, Francis allegedly entered the store May 11, around 8 p.m., wearing a ski mask and carrying a black plastic bag and a gun. They say he allegedly turned and pointed his gun at a pharmacy technician standing at the register before climbing over the counter. Francis allegedly then made it to a back counter, telling another pharmacist to “open the [narcotics] safe now or I’ll shoot you,” as he pointed a gun at her.
Prosecutors add, pharmacists retrieved various bottles and boxes of prescription drugs and placed them into Francis’ bag. They alleged Francis again demanded the pharmacist open the safe, telling her that she had “30 seconds” or he would shoot, but was interrupted after a cellphone alarm was heard going off. Francis allegedly told the pharmacist she was “lucky,” and he left.
According to the court records, an officer saw Francis run out the rear entrance and ordered him to stop. The officer eventually tackled him to the ground in the middle of the street and saw Francis allegedly holding, what was later described as, “a loaded 9mm firearm,” and attempting to raise toward the officer. The officer was eventually able to disarm Francis and, with additional officers, arrested him. Besides the gun, multiple magazines of ammunition and a bag of drugs were recovered. He faces state charges in Salem District Court and will make his first appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date.