Suspect charged with drug store break-in

A 20-year-old man was arrested Monday, Aug. 22 after allegedly breaking into the Rite-Aid store in the 600 block of Milford Road in Milford and fleeing with a shopping bag full of prescription narcotics.

Salvatore Vincent Barone was charged with breaking and entering of a building, a 10-year felony; possession of controlled substance (morphine), a 4-year felony; and possession of controlled substance analogues, a 2-year felony. He was arraigned in front of 52-1 District Court Magistrate Judith Holtz and is being held on a $25,000 cash bond.

According to a Milford Police Department press release, officers responded at approximately 12:30 a.m. to an alarm at the Rite-Aid store. Upon arrival at the scene, officers observed a broken rear window. As additional officers responded, a white male subject fled out a side entrance carrying a hatchet and a plastic shopping bag. The suspect fled on foot and was pursued by officers. It appeared the suspect ran to a vehicle and left the area.

As officers were searching the area, an individual approached and stated that he knew the suspect and could lead officers to his location. Officers, with the assistance of deputies from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department, went to the supplied address in Commerce Township and located the suspect, who was identified as Barone.

While continuing the investigation, officers were able to locate a shopping bag full of various prescription narcotics, according to police. It appears Barone was able to access the pharmacy section of the store by breaking the gated entry using the hatchet seen in his possession.

All of the property taken from the business was recovered.