Lake County authorities say a Nice man waiting to have his methadone prescription filled at a local pharmacy Thursday suddenly turned agitated and threatened to shoot the employees if he did not get his drugs.
Jesus Torres-Fernandez, 41, was at the Highway 20 Lucerne Pharmacy around 3:30 p.m. Thursday when he suddenly began pushing other customers and yelling at employees to get his medication, the Lake County Sheriff's Department said.
He also stuck his hand in the pocket of his sweatshirt, simulating a gun, ordered everyone to get down on the floor and said he would shoot if he didn't get his medication, authorities said.
Several customers ran for the door, and employees locked themselves in a secure pharmacy area behind the counter, allowing someone to call 911, officials said.
Torres-Fernandez, meanwhile, jumped the counter and tried to get through a window and a door into the secure area without success, they said.
He then began ransacking medication cabinets, throwing merchandise at the window.
He eventually gave up and went outside, where sheriff's deputies arriving from nearby found him in his vehicle.
Torres-Fernandez was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for suspicion of attempted robbery, first-degree burglary, false imprisonment, making criminal threats, battery, and unlawful possession of a hypodermic syringe.
He was being held in lieu of $25,000 bail, authorities said.
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