Published: July 02, 2009 09:18 pm      

Three arrested for stealing medication

Three men were arrested at Huntsville’s Wal-Mart Wednesday morning after being caught attempting to steal nearly $2,000 in over the counter medication.

Mario Israel Rivas Ocampo, 28, originally from Honduras, Elmer A. Velis, 28, originally from El Salvador and Fabricio Otoniel Vijil, 48, also from Honduras, were apprehended by Huntsville police just before 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Wal-Mart after employees observed them attempting to smuggle numerous boxes of high-priced medication out of the store in an emptied microwave box.

According to HPD Detective Slavin Richards, the suspects have been observed at several other area Wal-Marts attempting the same type of theft.

Wednesday morning’s attempt lasted approximately 10 minutes. After Wal-Mart employees observed the three suspects, they notified store loss prevention officers, who then called police. The three men were then apprehended in the parking lot and taken into custody.

All three men were charged with one count each of organized retail theft, but Richards said it’s likely more charges will be added if the suspects are linked to other, similar Wal-Mart thefts.

“They will be facing more charges from us, from this Wal-Mart, and other charges from other agencies,” Richards said.