By By Lisa Tindell
news editor
A Flomaton man is behind bars in an Escambia County, Fla., jail after police said he confessed to possession of a large amount of prescription pills — pills law enforcement officials believe are connected to the robbery of the Fred’s pharmacy in East Brewton last month.
Jason Daniel Kirk, a.k.a. Matthew Grant Kirk and Kirk Kirk, 30, 474 Houston Street in Flomaton, was arrested at the Extended Stay motel on Scenic Highway in Pensacola April 9, by Escambia County (Fla.) deputies and charged with trafficking drugs, according to official arrest reports released by the Escambia County, Fla., Sheriff’s Department.
A search of the room registered to Kirk was made by Florida officers which uncovered a Sentry safe-style lock box containing numerous plastic bags. The bags in the box were reported to contain large quantities of prescription narcotics. Included in the description of drugs found in the box were Xanax, Oxycodone, Mathadone, Morphine Sulfate and Hydrocodone. One of the bags found containing Hydrocodone weighed in excess of 200 grams. Additional information such as notebooks were also located and discovered to contain sales and inventory figures for the illicit narcotics. Kirk was in possession of the key to the lockbox at the time of the search. The reporting officer stated in the report that Kirk made post-Miranda statements admitting ownership of the narcotics.
Kirk is believed to have taken part in a burglary that occurred at Fred’s pharmacy in East Brewton last month, the police report stated.
Officers with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department joined the Florida law enforcement officers in making the arrest. Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said the Florida investigators believe the pills came from a pharmacy and are connecting the incident to the burglary in East Brewton.
East Brewton Police Chief Kenny Brazile said a Brewton man was also arrested in connection with the burglary.
Bobby Hanes of U.S. 31 North, was arrested last week after evidence was discovered at his residence that connected him to the burglary.
Lambert said Hanes was able to make bond and has been released from the Escambia County Detention Center.
Kirk is being held in the Escambia County, Fla., jail on a $250,000 bond. He is charged with drug trafficking, which is a first-degree felony.
He was also charged with fraud in connection with an insufficient-funds check, which is a misdemeanor offense.