Texas duo arrested in attempted burglary of pharmacy

James D. Hood, 31, of College Station, Texas, and Daron B. Livingston, 31, of Houston, Texas, were each taken into custody recently for the attempted burglary of NuCara Pharmacy in Greenfield and are being held in the Adair County Jail on $100,000 cash only bond.

Hood was taken into custody 4:21 a.m. July 7 in the 200 block of South 1st Street in Greenfield on a Morrill County, Nebraska, warrant for the charge of burglary, and Adair County charges of fugitive from justice, ongoing criminal conduct-unlawful activity, possession of burglar tools and burglary third degree.

According to Iowa State Patrol reports, at approximately 2:40 a.m. law enforcement officers were conducting physical surveillance of a 2023 Dodge Charger in the Greenfield area. During this time, an unknown male passenger was observed getting dropped off by the Charger in the area of the NuCara Pharmacy. The driver, later identified as Hood, then parked the car in the Union State Bank parking lot and remained in the vehicle.

As one group of officers approached the pharmacy, another group approached the Charger, which Hood remained in. Officers made contact with Hood who was found to have a valid and extraditable warrant through the state of Nebraska. The outstanding warrant was for burglary of a pharmacy June 3. During the Nebraska burglary, a hole was cut into the wall to gain access to a safe inside. A large amount of narcotics and money was taken.

During earlier surveillance, in the early morning hours of July 6 Hood was observed in Red Oak casing the Medicap Pharmacy. The Charger drove around the Red Oak area for approximately one hour and parked within a half block of the pharmacy and turned off its headlights. After a marked Red Oak Police vehicle saw the Charger and turned around to approach it, the Charger drove off. Further information obtained alleges Hood then drove to a drug store in Villisca and then south toward Missouri, where surveillance was discontinued.

Livingston was taken into custody 6:30 a.m. July 7 in the 700 block of NE Elm Street in Greenfield and charged with burglary, third degree; interference with official acts, ongoing criminal contact-unlawful activity and possession of burglary tools.

At approximately 2:40 a.m. law enforcement officers were conducting physical surveillance of a 2023 Dodge Charger in the Greenfield area. During this time, an male passenger, later identified as Livingston was observed getting dropped off by the Charger in the area of the NuCara Pharmacy. Livingston was observed on the west side of the pharmacy for an extended period of time, during which he cut a hole in the west wall of the pharmacy building and made entry.

As one group of officers approached the pharmacy, another group approached the Charger. Livingston eluded officers through a emergency exit on the south side of the building and fled on foot. Officers continued to search the area and located a male matching his description running across the highway. The male, later confirmed to be Livingston, was observed walking down the street until seeing a marked patrol car, at which time he fled into an open field. Livingston was given numerous commands to stop running or he would be bit by the dog. Hearing these commands, Livingston went to his knees with his hands in the air and was taken into custody without further incident.

Officers at the pharmacy were granted access by a key-holder and found the pharmacy area had also breached from inside. A bag of burglary tools used to assist in gaining access to the building were located in the pharmacy area. It appeared Livingston fled the pharmacy before taking any drugs were taken.

Livingston was transported to the Adair County Jail and held on $100,000 cash only bond.

Hood was transported to the Adair County Jail and held on $32,000 cash only bond for Nebraska charges and $100,000 cash only bond for Adair County charges.