First of 2 Break-Ins at Grosse Pointe Park Pharmacy Leads to Arrest

Grosse Pointe Park police arrested a 23-year-old Detroit man this weekend in connection with one of two break-ins at a Kercheval Avenue pharmacy.

Jason Alexander Spires is charged with two felonies: breaking and entering a building and larceny. If convicted, Spires faces up to seven years in prison on the breaking and entering count and up to four years in prison on the second count. Spires was arraigned Sunday before City of Grosse Pointe Judge Russell Ethridge. 

He will appear for a preliminary exam Wednesday in Grosse Pointe Park court, at which time the judge will determine whether there is enough evidence to bind Spires over for trial.

Park Detective David Loch said the charges against Spires stem from the first break-in of , 15126 Kercheval Ave., which happened July 25. and stole what Loch described as a significant amount of prescription drugs, including Vicodin. 

The pharmacy was broken into again Aug. 9 in a similar fashion. The same white Chevrolet Uplander was used, Loch said. In the second burglary, two men forced their way into the back door, according to a report.

Detectives are reviewing video surveillance from both of the burglaries, but the men had their faces covered and wore gloves, Loch said. Spires has been cooperative since his arrest and he led police to the getaway vehicle, Loch said.

Although detectives have not linked Spires to the second burglary, Loch said they believe the two men in that case are two of the four involved in the first burglary. The motive in these burglaries is not yet known, but Loch said typically it's related to the value of the pills and selling them for cash on the streets.

The burglaries, for now, seem to be isolated as other area police departments have not received similar reports, Loch said, noting he believes they returned to the same pharmacy because of the success they had the first time.