SALYERSVILLE ­ A Magoffin County man is wanted by police on numerous charges
after he walked into a local pharmacy on Monday and stole cash and pills.

Samuel Thomas, age 27, whose last known address was on Route 114, was last
seen in Salyersville on Tuesday, but is believed to have fled out of state.

Arrest warrants have been obtained by Operation UNITE for Thomas on charges
of theft of a controlled substance, third-degree burglary, theft by unlawful
taking items over $300 in value, possession of marijuana, and possession of
drug paraphernalia.

Thomas entered Garry¹s Pharmacy around 4:30 p.m. Monday afternoon, according
to a pharmacist and two pharmacy technicians working at the time.

According to the investigation, Thomas barged into the store and went
straight to a cash register where he stole approximately $650 in cash, then
took one full and one partially full bottle containing more than 800 Valium
pills.

No weapons were used during the course of the burglary.

The pharmacy employees notified the Salyersville Police Department. Officers
were dispatched immediately, but Thomas had already fled before they
arrived. Chief Matthew Watson then notified UNITE for assistance.

Law enforcement officials in surrounding counties were notified to be on the
lookout for Thomas. Later in the afternoon Thomas was spotted in Johnson
County, but he managed to elude the officer.

Tuesday morning Thomas apparently returned to the pharmacy drive-through and
gestured at employees before leaving the store.

Thomas had a suitcase with him when he entered the pharmacy, but left it
behind after the theft. Police discovered marijuana seeds and a pipe used to
smoke marijuana inside the otherwise empty bag.

Anyone with information about Thomas¹ whereabouts should contact the
Salyersville Police at 606-349-2409 or the UNITE Tip Line at 1-866-424-4382.

For more information about Operation UNITE visit their website at
www.operationunite.org .