LARGO
Man claiming he has a bomb is arrested
An armed man claiming to have a bomb holed up in the bathroom of a pharmacy on East Bay Drive Tuesday, surrendering after more than half an hour of negotiating with police, authorities said. Christopher Michael Degrande, 27, displayed a gun in order to obtain a bottle of prescription pills at the Walgreen's at 2295 East Bay Dr., said Largo police Lt. Edward Sohoski. Arriving on the scene, police officers — including Largo SWAT team members — evacuated the store and found Degrande in the bathroom. He said he had a bomb with him. After about 35 minutes of conversation through the bathroom door, Officer George Walters convinced Degrande to surrender, Sohoski said.
He said police were investigating a soda bottle carried by Degrande that might have been filled with gasoline, a potential explosive device. Degrande was arrested on charges of armed robbery, planting a hoax bomb and trafficking in a controlled substance.
Times staff
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