2 more arrested in burglary case

Published 12:00 am Saturday, June 14, 2014

An investigation into multiple break ins at the Fred’s Pharmacy location on South Three Notch Street in Andalusia has yielded two additional arrests, including new charges for a woman who was first arrested Tuesday in connection with the crimes.

Andalusia Police Department Lt. Barney Tyree said 27-year-old Lannette Nichole Stewart and 28-year-old Joshua M. Nelson, both of Andalusia, were arrested Thursday and each charged with burglary III and theft of property II for their alleged roles in the two burglaries. Stewart was also arrested two days earlier for allegedly attempting to hide narcotic medications stolen from the pharmacy from officers searching her residence south of Andalusia. She was charged with tampering with physical evidence. Her husband, 29-year-old Tony Randall Stewart was also arrested Tuesday after police said a “good citizen informant” gave officers information leading them to the couple. Tony Stewart was charged with two counts of burglary III and two counts of theft of property II.

Tyree said the pharmacy was first burglarized just before 10 p.m. on May 14, when the APD was notified of an alarm at the location. Upon arrival on the scene, Tyree said officers found a broken window in the front of the building, as well as a large quantity of narcotic medications missing from the store. On June 5, the pharmacy was burglarized a second time at 11:35 p.m., when a second large quantity of drugs, including narcotic medications, was stolen. The building, Tyree said, was entered from the same location as it was during the first incident.

Tyree said Lannette Stewart was booked into the Covington County Jail on a $100,000 bond. Nelson, Tony Stewart’s cousin, was also booked into the jail on a $100,000 bond. As of Thursday, Tony Stewart remained detained in the jail on a $200,000 bond.

Tyree did not give any indication of a connection between the Fred’s Pharmacy burglaries and the burglaries of two nearby Darby’s Pharmacy locations earlier this year; however, he added that the investigation is ongoing.