Five suspects in custody after armed robbery at grocery store

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By Erica Rush KCBY News

Story Published: Jan 15, 2009 at 11:35 PM PST

COQUILLE, Ore. - Coquille police arrested five people and charged them in connection with the armed robbery of a local supermarket in the early morning hours on Thursday.

According to Police Chief Mark Dannels, all five were at the Coquille Safeway before closing Wednesday night but two remained inside, hiding-out, until about two in the morning.

They tied up the two employees still at work, injuring one man and then proceeded to steal cash and other items from the store. A delivery man discovered the employees a little before four am and alerted police.

Investigators from Myrtle Point and Coos Bay as well as the Coos County Major Crimes unit were called into assist and within a matter of hours, two suspects were in custody.

Two boys, 16 and 17 years old, were arrested and revealed to police that three other suspects were headed to California. Dannels says police there were quickly able to locate and detain Benjamin Franklin Fry and Tod James Bailey, both 20, and Joshua Joseph Mikacevich, 19, all of Coquille.

Dannels says he's happy to have the crime resolved so quickly.

"It's a big relief," the chief said. "In Coquille where crimes is very low and to have a crime of this magnitude where people are tied up and robbed by gun point is pretty dramatic and sends a pretty bad message to our citizens that something like this might exist here. So I'm glad to say that with the help from the other agencies and dedication from our own officer here, that we brought this to a nice resolution."

All five suspects are now facing two counts of kidnapping and robbery, which could carry mandatory minimum sentences.

Coquille police are also planning to search a suspects vehicle for any uncovered items pertaining to this case, as the investigation continues.

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