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Article published May 20, 2009 Walgreens robberies suspect arrested
By Jessica Stith of The Daily Times Staff
Maryville detectives captured a suspect who was wanted in connection to two aggravated robberies in March at Walgreens, 2020 Foothills Mall Drive.
Nolan Scott Whateley, 21, Big Springs Road, Friendsville, was arrested by Maryville police officers on Monday on a charge of aggravated robbery. Warrants were also served charging him with three counts of violation of bail bond conditions and three attachments for contempt of court. There is also a Loudon County warrant on file charging him with violation of probation granted after a felony conviction.
Maryville Police Chief Tony Crisp said Whateley was also being held for an investigation on a second aggravated robbery and charges are pending in that case."We fully anticipate charging him on that (second robbery)," Crisp said.
According to earlier information from the Maryville Police Department, the first robbery occurred on March 2 at 1:34 a.m. A white man of slender build, thought to be in his 20s, handed the pharmacist at Walgreens a note demanding prescription medication. The note listed the strengths of narcotic medication that he wanted.
The man did not display a weapon, but the pharmacist feared he had one. He left with the narcotics, a report said.
On March 29 at 1:19 a.m., the Walgreens pharmacy was robbed again. The suspect again got away with a bag of prescription drugs.
According to an earlier report, the pharmacist reported that a man came to the counter wearing gloves and a hooded jacket to conceal his face. The suspect told the pharmacist to "come here" and the pharmacist told him that unless he removed the hood from his head he could not serve him. The subject then began to raise his shirt and indicated he had a weapon.
"In fear of his safety," the pharmacist went to the counter where the subject was standing. The man then gave the pharmacist a typed note listing what drugs and dosages he wanted. The pharmacist was told to retrieve the drugs and place them in a bag the subject provided.
The man continued to make furtive movements at his waistline while making unintelligible noises urging compliance by the pharmacist, according to the report. When the pharmacist deposited the drugs in the subject's bag, the man turned and left the building on foot.
A store employee who saw the subject at the counter said she believed he was the same man from a March 2 robbery, according to the report.
Through an investigation, Crisp said Whateley was identified as a "person of interest" in the robberies. He said Whateley "eluded capture" and left the state. Detectives had information that he may have been in Florida.Mother, sister charged
Crisp said warrants were obtained on Whateley several weeks ago and they located him at a residence Monday on Big Springs Road. Crisp said they also discovered that his mother and sister were allegedly attempting to conceal him.
Doreen Rita Higgs, 49, Hardin Cemetery Court, and Sarah Jane Whateley, 26, Big Springs Road, were each charged with accessory after the fact. They were both free on $2,500 bonds pending a 9 a.m. May 26 hearing in Blount County General Sessions Court.
Nolan Whateley was being held without bond due to the investigation, Loudon County warrant, the attachment for contempt and bail bond condition violations. He was being held in lieu of a $75,000 bond on the aggravated robbery charge and on $2,250 bonds on the other two attachments. He is required to appear at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. today, 9 a.m. May 26 and 1:30 p.m. June 1 in Blount County General Sessions Court.