Police to probe links between pharmacy robberies

UNITY – A plan hatched between pharmacy owners after a robbery at Pittsfield Pharmacy in December was instrumental in catching a Unity man charged with robbing the Unity Pharmacy on Friday.

Shane Savage, the Unity store’s owner and pharmacist, and Ryan Dyer, pharmacist and owner of the Pittsfield store, are close friends.

After Dyer’s store was robbed on Dec. 21, the two had discussions about what Dyer would have done differently when a masked robber confronted him, his employees and customers with a gun and knife.

“I said I would have followed him,” said Dyer, who, instead of chasing the robber from his store, remained behind to care for his staff and patrons.

Police have confirmed that there are similarities between the Unity and Pittsfield robberies and a Fairfield pharmacy robbery, which all took place one month apart on the 21st of each month. But they have not charged Shawn D. Kivlin, 29, of Unity with anything other than the Unity robbery.

Police are also looking into any similarities with a Jan. 6 robbery at the Unity branch of Bangor Savings Bank.

Maine Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland said Sunday that a photo lineup has been circulated among the employees at the Fairfield and Pittsfield pharmacies.

Investigators from the Maine State Police, Waldo County Sheriff’s Department and the Fairfield and Pittsfield police departments will meet at 10 a.m. today at the Waldo County Communications Center in Belfast to review the robbery cases and evidence gathered this weekend by detectives, including the results of searches of two cars and Kivlin’s apartment.

Kivlin, who is married and the father of three children, was arrested and charged with failure to stop for a police officer and robbery after a chase through Waldo and Knox counties Friday at speeds reaching 85 mph on snow-covered roads. He is accused of entering Unity Pharmacy just before noon with a pillowcase over his head and carrying a knife and gun.

After herding customers and staff into a corner, Kivlin allegedly demanded narcotics. Savage filled some of the prescription bottles with candy.

Kivlin is believed to have driven away in a Dodge Neon he had parked next to the store in an alley. Savage followed and reported his progress by cell phone to police.

During the chase, Kivlin swallowed some of the candy, and police said he had to be treated at a local hospital.

State police used a spike mat to disable Kivlin’s tires and arrested him in Appleton about a half-hour after the robbery.

Kivlin was taken to Waldo County General Hospital for treatment and later booked into the Waldo County Jail, where he remained Sunday night.

McCausland said police have seized two vehicles, a gray car registered to Kivlin and the car used as a getaway vehicle, which is registered to Kivlin’s mother. The cars will be processed today at the Maine State Police crime lab.