Armed Pharmacy Bandit Busted

LUSBY - 12/2/2008

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The suspect in the armed robbery at the Friendly Pharmacy in Lusby on Oct. 30 and the Giant Pharmacy in Lusby on Nov. 17, has been arrested.  After receiving a tip from anonymous citizens to the Calvert County Crime Solvers tip line, investigators with the Calvert Investigative Team were led to Travis Allan Phifer, 28 of Lusby.  Phifer was arrested at his home on Nov. 26 and charged with two counts of armed robbery, two counts of theft, two counts of second-degree assault and two counts of false imprisonment for the Oct. 30 robbery.  He was also charged with one count of robbery in the Nov. 17 case.   Investigators are appreciative of the actions of the citizens who called in their information to Crime Solvers.   It is an excellent example of the police and the public working together to keep our communities safe. Anyone with information relating to any crime, please contact the Maryland State Police Prince Frederick Barrack – (410) 535-1400 or the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office – (410) 535-2800.

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Smile_01 12/3/2008 at 8:47 AM Travis, Travis, Travis.... never thought you would do such a thing. Reply to This Comment

Unknown_User 12/4/2008 at 12:56 PM Reply to Smile_01: BECAUSE HE DIDN'T SMILE_01 Maybe that's why you can't believe it! Innocent until proven guilty. If OJ can get off for murdering someone, Travis should surely be able to get off for not being involved with this!

Unknown_User 12/3/2008 at 9:41 AM When was that picture taken? Can the police please tell the community when that picture was taken? He looks a LOT younger in that picture that what you looks like today! Reply to This Comment

Unknown_User 12/3/2008 at 9:59 AM Reply to Unknown_User: When was that picture taken? Part 2 you = he in the above comment. The community should know that picture was taken a long time ago. I believe the state police put that picture of him up on the website from a previous picture they had of him when he was younger. How do we confirm this as the police will not confirm!

freefaller 12/3/2008 at 3:31 PM Don't be rude I heard the State Police were "Rude" to him when they arrested him. I think that will give him the basis for a lawsuit worth millions! Reply to This Comment

SMD1234567 12/11/2008 at 9:45 AM Reply to freefaller: Are you a walking Contradiction? FreeFaller, Your opinions seem to vary so much. One comment you are throwing the idea of suing the county, for the Phifers. Then when someone else mentions it, you get a little defensive and throw out the opposite of what you were saying previously. How do you know Kayurtle hasn't made every effort to help in this investigation. Maybe you should listen to your own words and stop assuming things. If you aren't going to get off the fence, then just keep your comments to yourself.

ilovesomd 12/3/2008 at 9:12 PM Yes it was That picture was VERY old - anyone who knows him will know there is a big difference in his appearance from then and now - look at the size of him alone. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family during this difficult and tumultuous time. Please be respectful for their sake. Reply to This Comment

kayurtle 12/4/2008 at 10:05 AM Team Travis! Seriously?! This isn't even the picture that the police took of him when he was arrested at his home. Not to mention...what grounds did they have to arrest him in the first place? If all the police are going on is "anonymous callers" did they ever stop to think that maybe it was drug-attics that wanted the reward money making the calls to crime solvers?!?!?! Funny... I was at a stop light in Lusby yesterday and in that little amount of time I saw 3 Nissan Maximas with tented windows drive by... Why are aren't they questioning those people?!?! Also...did you know that there were 2 more pharmacies robbed in St.Mary's county recentaly, that fits the same discription as the person who robbed the ones in Lusby? Why aren't they looking into that? There is soooo much more that can be said about this this but I have come to the conclusion that the Calvert County Police Department is Lazy and is taking the first bite they got instead of actually investigating the crime. Have you ever heard of the expression..."Think outside of the box" This will all be over soon and I hope the Phifer family Sues the Hell out of Calvert County!! Reply to This Comment

Unknown_User 12/4/2008 at 12:54 PM Reply to kayurtle: RIGHT ON! TEAM TRAVIS RULES! Calvert County cops have been wanting to bust Travis for anything for so long. They are taking this "anonymous caller" too seriously! If AMW went and arrested everyone who called in an anonymous tip, 1/2 of the worlds population would be in jail. But than again, we are talking about the Calvert County police department. Did they need to arrest Travis to meet their quota? Another question is why did they wait until Thanksgiving Eve to arrest him? The "anonymous caller" gave the tip the week prior to his arrest? Were the cops waiting to bust him at the holiday so that he could sit in jail for the holiday weekend? Was that their tactic? I would of loved to of seen their faces when Travis was released a short time later! Guess their tactic failed, but then again, they are beginners since this is the Maryland training grounds!

freefaller 12/5/2008 at 2:41 PM Reply to kayurtle: Please think like a reasonable adult Who said that all the police have is a tip from a caller to the hot line? Police do not arrest someone unless thay have a pretty good suspicion that they have the right guy. I agree that it's possible that Travis is innocent, that's why we have a court system. Travis will get a trial in front of a judge and jury. You wrote that: "Funny... I was at a stop light in Lusby yesterday and in that little amount of time I saw 3 Nissan Maximas with tented windows drive by... Why are aren't they questioning those people?!?!" And how do you know that they didn't question those folks. Did you call the detectives and tell them what you saw and try to help in the case. After all, if Travis is your friend and he's not guilty of this crime, I'd think you'd want to help find the guilty party. You also wrote that: "Also...did you know that there were 2 more pharmacies robbed in St.Mary's county recentaly, that fits the same discription as the person who robbed the ones in Lusby? Why aren't they looking into that?" Again I ask you, how do you know that they aren't? What would you be saying if they were able to establish that Travis did those as well? I'm not saying he did but what then? I'm sorry that the police don't provide you with daily updates of their investigations. You wrote: ..."Think outside of the box"..... Maybe YOU should be thinking inside the box where the police present their evidence to a judge and get a warrant. That's how the system works. Lastly, you wrote: This will all be over soon and I hope the Phifer family Sues the Hell out of Calvert County!! They can sue all they want. It doesn't mean they'll win. Also, It might be hard to sue if Travis is in Jail! We'll all find out in a few months when this goes to court. That's when all the evidence will be heard!

lee1 12/6/2008 at 9:33 PM Travis = Dirtball = SLAM HARD! What do you think happens in a robbery? Shocked innocent individuls are confronted with the worst images of what can happen to them in the presence of a DirtBall with a mission. Go see "Cops" on TV and you get the idea. When the DirtBall who robbed a St. Mary's pharmacy last year was on trial, the prosecutor called me as the employer to ask if we could grant some "grace" as The DB copped a plea. If it weren't for "Sally", a new hire 16 year-old, I might have had a sense of leniency. But, "Sally" had the misfortune of being escorted with a revolver in her side from the front to the back of the pharmacy, where the DB the put others under duress while requesting controlled substances. Well, "Sally" did not deal well with threats of death. She broke down and cried easily for a least a month after the "incident". If you have a "Sally" in your family, just how would you look upon a DB who would put her through such trauma? We told the prosecutor to save his mercy for someone who may deserve it. That DB got 20 years. About right, there is Justice in this world.. Reply to This Comment

ilovesomd 12/8/2008 at 9:53 AM Reply to lee1: DIRTBALL??? Do you know him - No you probably don't! That is a sad situation for "Sally" and I do feel for her completely - no argument from me there. However - not everyone knows the facts of this case - and me being one of them (not knowing everything - just like you) I'm not going to argue back and forth over your comment. I will say this though - at least Sally knew what was shoved in her side - Unfortunate as it may be. The pharmacist at either place can't even say what kind of weapon it was - knife or handgun - how hard it is to tell the difference one is long and skinny, and another is kinda big. When I was stuck in the middle of a dispute between 2 people once at least I knew it was a GUN pointed at me! How dare you sit there and point fingers hiding behind a computer screen - people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Don't assume because a few people think he is guilty than it must be true - he has a lot of people who know him and know the person he is - everyone has their downfalls but he would NEVER do something like this - and that I do know to be true! Most people with common sense will know the weapon that was used - and if you're going to pin 2 robberies on 1 individual make sure their descriptions match - idiots! There are way too many discrepancies in these stories and I for one will most certainly be at the trial to listen closely as this mess is sorted out - I invite you to join to - you can rant and rave "dirtball" the whole time - but when this gets thrown out and true justice is served and they eventually get the real perpetrators - the drug addicts who steal from their own mothers and fathers who are dying because they have no sympathy towards any human being THEN I will gladly sit next to you and agree people who do this are dirtballs! Until then back off - and watch what unfolds. This could be your family!

kayurtle 12/9/2008 at 2:34 PM This comment is for FREEFALLER Hmmm. It's sounds to me like you know Travis. Why else would you be so interested in everyones comments? You are taking things a little to personal. You are right about one thing we will see what happens in court. However there are many cases where people are innocent and still go to jail for something they did not do. In the mean time why don't you take a look at some of ilovesomd and unknownusers comments. They seem to be on right track. Funny...you haven't replied to them. Your profile says that you are looking for something to do... it certainly shows. I wish you best of luck with that. It seems you have a little bit to much time on your hands. Reply to This Comment

SMD1234567 12/11/2008 at 9:51 AM Reply to kayurtle: Hmmmm Kayurtle, Sounds to me like FreeFaller might know you. they were very articulate in replying to every detail in your message and has yet to reply to the others, who are basically saying the same thing. Maybe not, but I'm sure it has crossed a few of our minds.

SMD1234567 12/9/2008 at 8:34 PM Sound familiar? SUNDERLAND, MD - On Tuesday, December 2, an employee of the Sunderland Wine and Spirits store located at 44 Dalrymple Road in Sunderland reported an armed robbery. The employee advised Det. Michael Mudd that at approximately 4:58 p.m. a white male, wearing blue jeans, a blue hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses entered the store. He had gray facial hair, was 5'7" to 6 feet in height, about 190 pounds and between 30 and 50 years old. The suspect brandished a knife, forcing the employee to hand over an undisclosed amount of cash. He then fled in a dark colored sedan, possible a Pontiac Bonneville. A witness recorded a partial license plate number. On December 3 at 8:00 p.m., DFC Michael Naecker and Dep. Andre Mitchell conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that matched the description given in the armed robbery. After arresting the driver, later identified as Lewis Charles Johns, 45 of Chesapeake Beach, for DUI and driving while suspended and/or revoked, Det. Mudd arrived and questioned Johns. The resulting investigation and interview led Det. Mudd to arrest Johns and charge him with armed robbery, first degree assault, second degree assault, theft and false imprisonment. Just some food for thought. Reply to This Comment

SMD1234567 12/11/2008 at 9:16 AM Too much of a coincidence. I think someone got cocky! Calvert County Sheriff's Office are asking for the public's help to identify a suspect wanted in connection with a theft that occurred at Rite Aid Pharmacy located in Prince Frederick on Dec. 8 at around 2 p.m. The suspect is described as a white male, between 22 and 27 years of age, ranging in height between 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall, weighing 180 to 210 pounds. The suspect fled the scene southbound on Md. Route 2/4 in a red (burgundy) Pontiac Grand Am with unknown Maryland registration. Anyone with information is asked to contact Cpl. V. Bortchevsky of the Calvert County Sheriff's Office Patrol Bureau at (410) 535-2800 or email Cpl. V. Bortchevsky at bortchvi@co.cal.md.us . Reply to This Comment

Unknown_User 12/11/2008 at 2:16 PM Don't talk about someone YOU DO NOT KNOW! I know a few of you who have commented know Travis. I'd like to say I know him very well! EXTREMELY well! He is not this kind of person. I'm not saying he is perfect, but please, someone, point out just 1 individual who is perfect. You won't find one and even if you do, you don't know them, because they are not perfect. Travis is a good person. He is a good husband, a good father, a good son, a good brother, and a good friend. He would do anything for you. Everything that the papers are printing and that the police are releasing are circumstantial. They don't have all the facts. If they did...he wouldn't be walking free now. It doesn't take a lot of common sense to know this. Unless you are so set in your ways that nothing can change your mind. If that is the case, you are no better than anyone else in the world. Where is the knife? Where is the gun? There were none found? RIGHT???? Where is the prescription he supposedly stole???? Where is the grey sweatshirt the police cannot find???? Do you have any idea what the police did to his family? Probably not. And unless you are a close friend or family member, you don't know. You take other people's word as the truth. If you do not know what is going on with him or his family, that I would shut up and stop talking about things that someone else has done. No 2 people are alike. lee1, you have a special place in my thoughts...but you really don't want to know what it is!!! Reply to This Comment

WoW-Wee 12/31/2008 at 1:02 PM Travis??? To everyone that keeps saying he is going to get off, I hate to burst your hopeful little bubbles, but NO ONE gets away with armed robbery. Yea, Yea, he didnt do it, right? BULLCRAP! I know for a fact he did it. To the person who said the real druggies steal from thier parents and family, if travis' parents had pills, trust me, they would be stolen. It sucks that everyone wants to rush to defend him after he robs a place, where was everyone before this happened. All of you know what the heck what going on. Maybe not to that degree, but most of you who were closest to him know exactly what was going on. Oh, to the scrotum who said that the cop was rude and therefore travis has a million dollar lawsuit, you my friend need to lay off the pills as well. If i sued everyone that has been rude to me, i'd be retired. It's pretty rude when you shove a large kitchen knife in someones face for percocets. the Pharmacist should sue travis. How stupid can you be???? Reply to This Comment

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