New Castle man faces charges in robberies of 2 pharmacies

NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Thanks to a quick-acting pharmacist and grocery store owner, a Franklin Avenue man is in police custody accused of robbing two pharmacies.
Police said pharmacist Bob Eckert and Joseph's Supermarket owner Dennis Joseph tackled Phillip Lee Fantone, 41, as he tried to leave the supermarket. Police said Fantone went to the pharmacy inside the supermarket Tuesday morning and handed Eckert a note demanding OxyContin and other drugs.
He showed a gun, police said. Eckert told the robber they didn't have those drugs and the robber turned to leave. Eckert and Joseph tackled the man and subdued him with pepper spray, police said.
Police said they also identified Fantone as the man who robbed the Rite Aid Pharmacy on East Washington Street on Sunday.
He was arraigned Tuesday on two counts each of robbery, terroristic threats and simple assault. He is also charged with theft by unlawful taking in the Rite Aid Pharmacy robbery, where drugs were taken. Police Chief Tom Sansone said officers found evidence at Fantone's home.
Sansone said the gun used in the second robbery was a pellet gun.
Fantone is being held on $25,000 bond in each robbery.