On March 22nd, 2018, at around 5:45P.M., Merced Police Officers were dispatched to Rite Aid Pharmacy at 1158 W Main street, to investigate a strong-arm robbery. It was reported that two suspects had taken prescription drugs during the robbery. Before police arrived at the crime scene, the two suspects Jakob Kenneth Johns, 18-year-old resident of Sacramento, CA and Mills Frank Wesley III, 23 year-old also a resident from Sacramento fled from the store and entered a silver 4-door sedan.

Officers discovered that the suspects were N/B highway 99 from the city limits of Merced. Merced Police Officers pursued after the suspects on highway 99 and the pursuit ended in the 1500 block of W. Colony Road in Ripon, CA. The suspects crashed their vehicle into a light pole at the end of the pursuit.

Both suspects were arrested and transported to the Merced Police Department where Detectives will be interviewing the suspects. A large quantity of prescription drugs were recovered from the vehicle after arresting the suspects. No one sustained any injuries during the robbery of the pharmacy or during the apprehension of the suspects.

The investigation of this case is ongoing to determine if the suspects have committed other robberies in the City of Merced or other jurisdictions. If the public has any information about robberies at Rite Aid Pharmacies, please contact Detective John Pinnegar at 209 388-7712.