Three people have been arrested in connection with the Saturday robbery of Medicap Pharmacy, 2818 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., in Fayetteville.
Police identified Hendrik Hornsveld and an unnamed teenager as suspects in the robbery from surveillance video, according to a preliminary arrest report. In addition, Hornsveld's wife was charged in connection with the robbery.
Two men in hoodies walked into the pharmacy Saturday afternoon, the owner told police. One man, later identified as Hendrik Hornsveld, hit the owner in the head with a crowbar, knocking him down. The teenager jumped behind the counter and the two had the owner open the safe to get prescription narcotics. The man police believe was Hornsveld began to cut the phone lines and computer cords.
The pharmacy owner retrieved his handgun and shot at the two. They left in a black car. The owner later told police he thought his shots had hit both men. Police were called to the pharmacy at 3:34 p.m. Saturday.
Police located the black car at 741 S. Morningside Drive apartments on Sunday.
Police talked to a middle-aged woman there who said a trio had arrived at her apartment bloody and injured on Saturday, held her hostage and required her to assist them with medical care and cleaning their bloody clothing. The woman told police they had walked into her apartment and she felt she couldn't leave.
The woman told police Melanie Hornsveld, Hendrik's wife, forced her to pick up food and medication for the two men. Melanie Hornsveld was an acquaintance, she said.
Three people were arrested at the apartment.
Hendrik Hornsveld and Melanie Hornsveld, both 39, both of 28 Constance Circle in Bella Vista, were arrested on suspicion of identical charges: aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, engaging in a continuing criminal gang, organization or enterprise, second-degree false imprisonment and first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor.
Fayetteville police spokesman Craig Stout confirmed that a 17-year-old also was arrested in connection with the incident.
Hendrik Hornsveld and the teen were taken to Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, Stout said Monday.
Melanie Hornsveld told police that both her husband and the teen had been shot in the robbery.
Her husband told her Saturday he wanted to drive to Bentonville to purchase narcotics but decided to rob a pharmacy in Fayetteville because the drive was too long. She told police that she knew Hendrik intended to rob the store and she required the teenager to go with him while she sat in the car.
Hendrik Hornsveld told police he hit the pharmacy owner with the crowbar, cut phone lines and got one bottle of pills during the robbery.
The pharmacy owner had a severe cut on his head from the crowbar, according to the preliminary report. He was treated, released and retrieved surveillance video for police.
Hendrik Hornsveld and Melanie Hornsveld each were was being held Monday in the Washington County Detention Center on a $25,000 bond.
Amye Buckley can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAAmye.
NW News on 02/10/2015