Police cite drug money as motive in takeover heists

ByHulyHaflis

STAFF WRITER

OAKLAND Three suspects arrested in connection with violent takeover
robberies of a pharmacy and a savings aiid loan have admitted their
involvement, saying they wanted spending money, especially for drugs.
police said Wednesday.

Besides the three under arrest, police are looking for two men with them
during Tuesday's pharmacy robbery and say they expect to make arrests
soon.

Arrested for investigation of armed robbery. assault with a deadly weapon
and various weapons charges were Rasheed Sims, 20, Rickey Daniels, 18.
and a 16yearold police said is Daniels' cousin. All live in West
Oakland.

Sims was paroled last month after serving a term for drug possession,
authorities said.

In addition to Tuesday's robbery at the Elmhurst Pharmacy, 9124 E. 14th
St., police said, the three are responsible for Saturday's robbery at
Home Savings of America, 270 E. 18th St.

Sgt. Mike Yoell said the three also admitted planning to rob the Sanwa
Bank, 4900 Telegraph Ave., on Tuesday.

They went by tile bank several times but were frightened off each tirne
after seeing a security guard. The security guard was able to provide
P0lice with the license plate of the Oldsmobile Cutlass they were in.

Yoell said tile car was bought last week by Daniels from a relative.

The car was the same one used in Saturday's Home Savings robbery.

In that holdup, Sims and tile 16yearold, both

wearing masks, did the actual robbery while Danlels waited a block away
in the car, police said.

A shot was fired during tile robbery at a customer who ran out of tile
building, and dye packs contained in the money taken also exploded,
causing the robbers to drop most of the loot, p0lice said.

Besides shooting at the customer who ran from the bank, one of the
suspects pointed a gun at a man parked near tile getaway car, police
said.

That man was the first to give police the license plate of the
Oldsmobile.

Yoell said the suspects decided to rob the pharmacy Tuesday after their
unsuccessful attempts at Sanwa Bank.

He said Sims and Daniels wearing masks "took over" the pharmacy. forcing
five employees to lie on the floor while the 1 6yearold served as a
lookout outside. The two others police are looking for remained in the
car.

Yoell said Daniels fired at least one shot inside the pharmacy to get an
employee to open a cash drawer.

Mter dropping off the two others, Sims, Daniels and the 16yearold
drove to North Oakland. Yoell and Sgt. Ed Juarez were in an unmarked car
looking for them as a result of the Sanwa Bank attempt and spotted the
car they were In about 3:30 p.m. near 51st Street and Telegraph2
Avenue.

They followed tile car to a restaurant in the 5400 block of Telegraph.
where the three were ari rested and the gun, ski masks and gloves
recovered.