ROBBERIES PROMPT CAVE'S DRUG TO STOP SELLING OXYCONTIN

Armed Guard Now Posted at Local Drug Store

KINGSPORT - Hershel Cave has had enough.

After four armed robberies by drug-seekers - two in the past 10 days -
he's taken their target off the shelves and hired an armed guard.

Cave, who owns Cave's Drug on John B. Dennis Highway, said the problem
is getting out of hand.

"We'll no longer carry OxyContin on the premises," Cave said. "We're
going to put in extra security and extra cameras and put a sign in the
window saying we won't carry it."

A uniformed off-duty Sullivan County Sheriff's Department deputy sat
at the register counter Monday, observing as customers came by to
conduct business.

Cave hopes the presence will prevent what happened Saturday when a
knife-wielding man entered the store and demanded drugs. As in the
past, employees complied with the man's demands.

Cave said he and other area pharmacists have also pledged to get
together a "sizable reward" for information leading to the arrest and
conviction of those responsible for the robberies.

"This has to be brought to a halt. This is rampant here," he
said.

Cave said he believes that the more than $15,000 worth of OxyContin
stolen from his pharmacy in the past year has been sold on the streets.

And more OxyContin was stolen from another pharmacy Monday. A man
disguised by a bandanna entered Bloomingdale Drug Center about 3 p.m.
and demanded drugs.

He then stole an employee's vehicle.

That method of operation was also used in the past two robberies at
Cave's Drugs.

Cave said it is important to him to keep his employees and customers
safe.

"I'm going to protect the employees, and I'm going to make sure my
customers are protected," he said.

"I've taken the appropriate steps to make sure the flow of business
keeps going. Hopefully, the customers will understand," he said.