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Gunman robs Ferriday drug store
Published Wednesday, June 18, 2008
FERRIDAY — When a man dressed in camouflage, a hat and glasses walked up to the counter at Vaughan’s City Drug Store Monday afternoon and showed owner Chris Vaughan a gun and asked for Xanax, Valium, Methadone and OxyContin, Vaughan didn’t know if he should take it seriously.
“I asked him if it was a joke, and when he told me it wasn’t, it was like, ‘OK, I’ll do it for you,’” Vaughan said.
The alleged robber, Robert C. Ballard, 26, of 307 Persimmon Drive, Tullos, La. then turned and told all of the employees to get back from the counter and not touch any of the phones.
“When he told us to back away from the counter, one of the associates had a cell phone in her pocket and when someone motioned to her to do it she called 911,” pharmacist Anglie Parish said. “My heart dropped when I realized it was real.”
Vaughan gave Ballard Xanax, Valium and OxyContin, and after the alleged robber left the store, he called his father to come help with inventory.
“People just kept coming in because they didn’t know what had happened, so we just kept on,” Parish said.
An employee at the nearby Kentucky Fried Chicken location saw the car Ballard was allegedly in leave the scene, and Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office Deputy Stephen Karabelen and Louisiana State Trooper Wayne Taylor later stopped the car near Lakeside Ford on U.S. 84, CPSO Public Information Officer Kathleen Stevens said.
Reportedly driving the car was Ballard’s sister, Bridget Charlene Ballard, 25, of 234 Persimmon Road, Tullos.
When stopped, Robert Ballard allegedly tried to hide some of the evidence when exiting the vehicle.
The gun Ballard allegedly used was reportedly a BB gun designed to resemble a .45 pistol, Stevens said.
The quick law enforcement response and the public’s willingness to work with them are the reason the arrest happened so quickly, Concordia Parish Sheriff Randy Maxwell said.
“The public really made a difference here,” Maxwell said.
Robert Ballard was charged with armed robbery.
Bridget Ballard alleges she did not know of her brother’s intentions. She was charged with expired driver’s license and was placed on a probation hold, Stevens said.
No bond was set for either Robert or Bridget Ballard Tuesday.
Deputy Phillip Webber also assisted in the investigation, which is considered ongoing.
Comments
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 12:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And to think so many people think there is no drug problem in this area.
Hmmmm....
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 12:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Our "war on drugs" has failed miserably. All it has done is to increase the cost of illegal drugs and thereby increase crime and fill our prisons at a horrible cost to the taxpayers.
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 12:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No kiddin' OldGrandDad, and things are getting worse by the day.
Posted by free_radical (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 1:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In the middle of the day huh? Kinda brazen i'd say!
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 1:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It seems that our nation has gone down a terribly misguided path and has been doing this for a long time. Here's an excellent article on the subject in National Review. Scroll down to the section written by William F. Buckley.
http://www.nationalreview.com/12feb96/dr...
Posted by The_Punisher (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 4:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This guy must have a serious drug problem. All of the drugs that he stole are highly addictive and easily abused, especially OxyContin. A family member of mine was prescribed OxyContin after surgery and they refused to take it due to reputation of the drug being highly addictive.
Never underestimate a drug addict, many of them will do anyting for their next high.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 6:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A whole family of bandits! Son robs, dad comes to help count up the loot and the sister drives the get-away car! Boy, robberies don't go off too well in small towns, didn't they know that?
Posted by quest (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 7:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
the dad that was called was the dad of the pharmacist NOT the robber;
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Old Grand Dad has the best point here.
Poor pitiful fool who would use a BB gun like that to get himself put in jail in such a daylite blunder.
Respectfully the sheriff should when praising law enforcement and citizen's actions should have also been honest and said, "What a fool this guys was! All criminals should be so dumb."
Posted by draworks1 (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Some years back I was put on Oxycontin for a back injury. None of the other medicines that my doctor put me on helped at all. So he told me about Oxycontin which was much more powerful than what I was taking. He also told me that some people need rehab to get off of this drug. So I decide to try it because I needed some relief, it did help alot. At first I didn't want surgery on my back but, after about 6 months of being on Oxycontin I decided to go on and let him do surgery because, I didn't want to be on drugs the rest of my life. Besides my back wasn't getting any better. A few days later I could tell that the surgery had helped but I still wasn't ready to stop the Oxycontin. I waited about 8 more weeks and stopped taking the Oxycontin on my on. Well let me tell you 12 hours later I felt really depressed then about 18 more hours I started vomiting and I do mean vomiting, violently. I didn't know if I had got the flu or what. I never dreamed that this drug could have this effect on me. I ended up going to the emergency room. They ran every test they could and, me or my wife either one thought to tell them that I had stopped the Oxycontin. The whole time I was still vomiting every 5 minutes I couldn't stop. After a couple hours of vomiting so violently I was hurting really bad in my rib cage even more so when I vomited. The vomiting went on for about 12 hours maybe more. I finally stopped so they sent my home. I finally realize that maybe it was withdrawals so the next morning I called my back doctor and he told me that's what it was. He also told me that I was though the worst of it and he could give me a weaker pain med. I told him no that I wasn't taking anything else. I thought that after a few days I would be back to normal boy was I wrong. I didn't have any energy at all. I couldn't even go grocery shopping with my wife. By the time I walked from the car to veggies in the front of the store I was drained and had to go back to the car. Gradually I got my strength back but it took 2 or 3 weeks. So if you can help it don't take this drug and if you do don't take youself off of it go about it the right way. Either go to rehab or ask for a less power drug and gradually ease yourself off of it if you can. I finaly had to have a simulater put in. It has two wires running to the nerves in my back and kind of shocks the nerves which has taken almost all the pain away. I hope this helps someone.
Posted by The_Punisher (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good for you draworks1, glad you got off of this stuff. If OxyContin is this addictive and has side affects like you mentioned then why isn't it pulled from the pharmacies? This sounds like a case of " the cure being worse than the disease."
I've never heard any "good" OxyContin stories, it's all bad. The Jackson newspaper The Clarion Ledger in the past have run articles on OxyContin that will scare the crap out of you, from overdoses, abuse, death, to incarceration. I don't see how this drug helps anyone.
Posted by momof1 (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm thankful that Chris and all of his employees are ok. It could have turned out a lot worse.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Chris is such a nice guy, it is good to see that justice was served.
Good job Ferriday residence for coming together and helping each other out. That in itself will make Ferriday a better place.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
residents... sorry
Posted by ncogg (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WOW!!!
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I imagine he intended to sell these pills. This is so sad. I am glad they were caught before these drugs made it to the street. I found a link to the FDA about these drugs and all are on the "Most Commonly Abused" list. Drugs are a HUGE problem all over the country. I feel like there is no hope. The problem has gotten so big. I pray for our children.
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry. Here is the link.
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2001/50...
Posted by tervsrule (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Lord for taking care of our friends at the drug store and thanks to the good citizens of Ferriday who helped the police get this creep.
Posted by draworks1 (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Punisher.
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now this is scary.
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Story?id...
I am thankful that everyone is ok. This could have been so much worse.
Posted by CoolChief (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If the robber would have taken a right at JD's fish market and headed south on 15 a couple of miles he would have pulled up to his new home. Thanks to the boys in blue for helping out the "Good Citizens" of Ferriday
Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WOW I was in Vaughn's Monday at about 12:30. Glad I went earlier than I had origanally planned to go. I can't understand anyone doing this, Chris & Mr. Vaughn (the dad, when he's there) are the nicest people in town.
Let's all be thankful it could have been so much worse.
I'm very thankful Chris and all the fine employees at Vaughn's are safe!!!!
Posted by acedog (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lets take are hats off to the men and women that make up our local lawenforcement and cross our fingers be thankful that we haven't seen a increase in violent crimes like a lot of cities close to us. particulary jackson ,ms.every time you turn on the news there something awful going on.i thank god that i can honestly say i fell safe in the city of natchez.just like to say thanks to all local lawenforcement officers and keep doing your job,and maybe the city of natchez will wake up and pay you guys a respectable salary. thank you!
Posted by BurningStar (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like he was in pain and having anxiety.
(joke)
Posted by tessa (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 2:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GOOD JOB !!!!!!! C.P.S.O. AND L.S.P. WAY TO GO IN GETTING THE DOPE HEAD OFF THE STREET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS
Posted by msblackstallion (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 3:34 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by Bamaman (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's not make this a race issue come on now (Please)that's also what's wrong with our country.
Posted by Swapmeet (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 8:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Drugs are a terrible problem around here. I live a few mile outside of Natchez and I see drug deals being made all the time in broad daylight at the playground. I've had to go around cars stopped in the middle of the road as they wait on the dealer to come out of the driveway. It's sad.
Posted by Melis11577 (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 9:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In 2005 Methadone is indicated in over 4600 deaths nationwide and this number is underestimated due to an error in ICD10 coding and non uniform procedures in reporting and determining causes of death. Methadone is killing more people than any other prescription drug, killing 2 people for every 100 exposed.
Methadone is now the #2 Killer Drug in the U.S. Methadone is more addictive then any other pain medication including heroin and because of it’s extremely long half life, cardio toxic risks, numerous fatal drug interactions, dosages based on tolerance, and small margin of error.
We are asking government agencies to enact stricter guidelines in prescribing methadone for any reason. It must be mandatory that all doctors be certified and trained in the pharmacology of methadone; inpatient stays must be required during induction to methadone; all staff be extensively trained in monitoring methadone patients for symptoms of toxicity. Clinic patients should be tested weekly for legal and illegal drugs that are taken with methadone to get “ high” or experience “euphoria” such as benzodiazepines, alcohol, cocaine, heroin, marijuana etc… and face severe consequences or mandatory detoxification from the methadone program after 3 dirty urines. Selling of take home doses must result in termination from methadone program permanently throughout the U.S. When presenting inebriated at clinic, clinic should also document such activity as well as prevent client from driving. Take home doses for all patients receiving methadone should be eliminated thus preventing the risk of diversion or precautions such as pill safe should be implemented. http://www.thepillsafe.com/
Current statistics show that nearly 4000 people a year die from methadone. These deaths are mostly happening to pain management and detoxification patients’ wit hi n the first 10 days of taking initial dose. Most of these deaths are related to methadone prescribed with other medications that react as additives with the methadone. Diversion of methadone is a serious problem because it lands t hi s most deadly drug on streets. Statistics also state that methadone is contributing to more deaths nationwide then heroin and only second to cocaine deaths.
The potential of abuse, diversion, and overdose to new patients being prescribed methadone is overwhelming. The unique properties of methadone, it's long half life, and it's negative interaction with numerous drugs make it an optimal choice as a last result treatment for chronic pain and addiction.
Helping America Reduce Methadone Deaths
www.HARMD.org
Posted by peachpit (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 9:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Concordia Sentinel Has the full Story
Posted by PIangel (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 10:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go Steven Karablen you did a hell of a job keeping your eyes open.Just a week or so out of the training again good job keep it up.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Meliss has news Concordia Parish drug enforcement could use. When I called to report methadone abuse several years ago, they laughed in my face..."who ever heard of methadone? this girl must be on drugs", they said as they hung up the phone in my ear. I'll never forget that.
Now what do you have to say for yourselves? Who's ignorant now? IT'S CALLED METHADONE!
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