2 charged in connection with armed robbery at medical store

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Two Port St. Lucie residents – including an armed man wearing a bandanna over his face and a woman with pills hidden in her buttocks – were jailed Tuesday in connection with an armed robbery at a medical supply store, deputies said.

Deputies said Daniel Yerkes, who wore a hat with the letter ‘P,’ a dark hoodie, dark pants and a blag bag, pointed a firearm at four employees and two customers inside Perkins Medical Supply. Yerkes handed an employee a list of several pills, including oxycodone, xanax, and dilaudid, that he wanted from the pharmacy.

The getaway driver, Stacey Lofton, wrapped some of the stolen pills in tissue and hid them in her buttocks area, reports show. No injuries were reported in the robbery.

Indian River County deputies arrested Yerkes, 30, of the 4200 block of Southwest Xenon Street, on six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery with a deadly weapon, grand theft and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Lofton, 35, who lives with Yerkes, was charged with trafficking oxycodone, tampering with or destroying evidence and principal in first degree to robbery with a firearm.

The relationship between the two was not known.

The robbery happened about 6 p.m. Tuesday at Perkins Medical Supply, 3721 10th Court, just west of Indian River Boulevard. Deputies spoke with a store employee, who said a man, later identified as Yerkes, stole about five to six bottles of prescription pills and unaccounted pills, reports show.

The total amount of pills stolen was not available.

Yerkes got into the front passenger side of a white Lexus. The driver, later identified as Lofton, drove from the scene and was stopped by deputies in the 7500 block of State Road 60, reports show.

Deputies reviewed surveillance footage of the robbery. Both Yerkes and Lofton were interviewed by investigators at the sheriff’s office. Yerkes admitted to the robbery, but said Lofton had no part in the act, reports show.

Deputies then searched Lofton after she appeared to be removing something from her rear area. Deputies found several pills wrapped in tissue and also a pill bottle hidden under the cushion in an interview room, reports show.

Deputies arrested Yerkes and Lofton. Both remained at the county jail Wednesday; Lofton on $175,000 bond and Yerkes on $600,000 bond.

Both have arraignments at 8:45 a.m. August 2, court records show.