At approximately 11:30 a.m. yesterday, West Melbourne Police received a call that an armed robbery had just occurred at Sam’s Club, 4255 West New Haven Avenue in West Melbourne.
According to witnesses, 52-year-old Norman Papineau of Palm Bay entered the pharmacy area and demanded narcotics. He allegedly claimed that he had C4 (a plastique explosive) in the bag in his possession and would blow them away if they did not comply.
Witnesses provided a description of the man who fled the store with an undisclosed amount of Oxycontin and Hydromorphone and entered a nearby wooded area where officers captured and took him into custody without injury but not without a struggle.
The suspect, who witnesses observed ingesting an unknown quantity of the stolen narcotic, rapidly became lethargic and his vital signs quickly diminished. Officers immediately initiated life-saving measures until the arrival of Brevard County Fire Rescue.
The suspect is currently under police guard at Weusthoff Hospital in Melbourne. Charges include armed robbery and resisting arrest without violence.
According to West Melbourne Police Commander Steve Wilkinson, no explosives were found in Mr.Papineau’s possession.