Home NEWS Police/Fire “DrugZilla” Arrested In Connection With CVS Drug Robbery; Released On Bond

“DrugZilla” Arrested In Connection With CVS Drug Robbery; Released On Bond

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Photo: File

Danville Police late Tuesday arrested a 33-year-old Oakland man in connection with the morning robbery of the CVS store on San Ramon Valley Boulevard. Danville Police Chief Allan Shields said the incident occurred at approximately 8:08 a.m. Tuesday.

The suspect, identified as Jonathan Szkotak, 33, entered the store wearing a surgical mask and approached the pharmacist. Szkotak reportedly handed the pharmacist a note demanding pharmaceuticals. During the robbery he displayed a black semi-automatic pistol. On receiving the meds, Szkotak left the store and fled in a gray Toyota Prius one witness said bore the legacy license plate: RXZILLA.

Ed: We are unable to confirm if the Mr. Szkotak arrested Tuesday night is an East Bay pharmacist of the same name. Reached Wednesday, police declined to comment on that aspect of their case or to discuss the gunman’s motive for the robbery. Chief Shields also said that Szkotak appeared to have acted alone, despite an earlier report that a woman was behind the wheel of the Prius at the time of the robbery.

Chief Shields praised a witness for providing an accurate description of the vehicle that allowed officers to locate it on the Town’s Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) camera system. An image of the vehicle’s license plate led to the arrest of Szkotak Tuesday evening at his Oakland home. Szkotak was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on a charge of robbery. He has since been released on $100,000 bond.

“We’re extremely pleased with this result and the great cooperation we receive from our residents,” Shields stated. “Between the witness description and our own camera system, we were able to track this suspect down quickly and safely.”

Szkotak is also being investigated in connection with a similar robbery that occurred in 2017 in Danville.

For more information, contact Det Sgt Ron Hoekwater at (925) 314-3700 or rhoekwater@danville.ca.gov.

15 COMMENTS

  1. Something’s not right here. How do you get released on bail the day you’re arrested for armed robbery?

  2. $100K bail (perp pays $10K) seems low for armed robbery— especially on a same day basis. I would start higher and lower after a few days. In contrast, I would let non-violent offenders bail out “for free” after 48 hours if they agree to GPS anklet monitoring.

  3. If you google that name, the return might explain the license plate. I’m suspecting drug addiction by someone not schooled in criminal ways.

    • @Tom – Oh, you detectives! We started pulling at some loose ends on this one last night and arrived at a scenario we are so far unable to confirm, but which ceased to surprise us after about our third year on the police beat! Thanks for writing!

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