Police Swiftly Make Arrest in Hazlet CVS Pharmacy Robbery Friday

A swift response by area police resulted in the arrest a man alleged to have robbed the new CVS Pharmacy on Route 35 in Hazlet for prescription drugs. The incident happened around noon today. 

Hazlet Police Chief Jim Broderick said Thomas F. Tierney Jr., 38, of Keyport was charged with second degree robbery and third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance. He is currently being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold on $110,000 set by Superior Court Judge Linda Grasso-Jones.

Hazlet Police said they got the call at 11:52 a.m. that a man wearing a gray sweatshirt and black knit cap had approached the pharmacy counter and indicated to the employees that he was armed with a weapon.  He requested various narcotics, police said. The employees complied. He then fled from the store on foot.

Patrols units converged on the area, assisted by Holmdel and Keyport units and the Hazlet Township Police K-9 Unit.

At 12:13 p.m., Patrols located and arrested Tierney at the Shore Point Inn Motel, located on Hwy. 35 in Hazlet -- just across the highway.  

The investigation was handled by Hazlet Police Officer Jerry Burgos.  

Assisting in the arrest were Hazlet's Sgt. Ted Wittke, Ptl. Ryan McAndrews, Ptl. Kevin Geoghan , Ptl. Richard Jaeger, Ptl. Scott Randolph, Ptl. Charleigh Dufford, Ptl. Richard Wilhelm, Ptl. Edward Schmidt, and K-9 Diablo.  

Assistance was also provided by Holmdel Detective Louis Torres and Officer William Bernard, along with Ptl. Joseph Ruth from Keyport PD.

An arrest is not a conviction. Every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a trial.