Benjamin Blessing, a 52-year-old Maryland man was jailed after he allegedly robbed a pharmacy with a drug-filled syringe.
According to Columbia police, Blessing walked into a CVSPharmacy on April 18, held a blood-filled syringe to the pharmacist's throat and threatened to inject her with AIDS if she didn't open the store's safe.
Blessings got what he wanted and fled the store with $27,000 worth of prescription medications.
Police have confirmed that the syringe was filled with blood, and are currently testing to see if the blood contains the AIDS virus.
Blessing has also been charged for a robbery that took place in early October. Investigators say Blessing walked up to a woman and her 4-year-old child, pointed a stun gun at them and demanded cash. Blessing fled the scene when a cab pulled up,interrupting his plans.
Blessing was identified after detectives studied surveillance video from the pharmacy. Officers executed a search warrant and recovered a portion of the medications that had been stolen from the pharmacy.
Blessing was booked into the Howard County Detention Center on charges of armed robbery, first and second-degree assault, theft and reckless endangerment for the April 18 robbery.
He has also been charged with armed robbery and first-degree assault for the October Robbery.
Bond in his case has been set at $170,000.
According to Columbia police, Blessing walked into a CVSPharmacy on April 18, held a blood-filled syringe to the pharmacist's throat and threatened to inject her with AIDS if she didn't open the store's safe.
Blessings got what he wanted and fled the store with $27,000 worth of prescription medications.
Police have confirmed that the syringe was filled with blood, and are currently testing to see if the blood contains the AIDS virus.
Blessing has also been charged for a robbery that took place in early October. Investigators say Blessing walked up to a woman and her 4-year-old child, pointed a stun gun at them and demanded cash. Blessing fled the scene when a cab pulled up,interrupting his plans.
Blessing was identified after detectives studied surveillance video from the pharmacy. Officers executed a search warrant and recovered a portion of the medications that had been stolen from the pharmacy.
Blessing was booked into the Howard County Detention Center on charges of armed robbery, first and second-degree assault, theft and reckless endangerment for the April 18 robbery.
He has also been charged with armed robbery and first-degree assault for the October Robbery.
Bond in his case has been set at $170,000.
