FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – A self-employed tennis professional whose contract with the city of Fernandina Beach was terminated on last month is accused of robbing a CVS Pharmacy on Thursday night.
Police said Jason Berke, 37, entered the store in the 800 block of Sadler Road about 9:30 p.m. wearing sunglasses, gloves, a gray hooded sweatshirt and material partially covering his face.
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Police said he walked to the pharmacy counter and handed a note to the employee on duty demanding oxycodone and OxyContin by bottles. The note instructed the employee not to hurry, open her mouth or press an alarm, warning that someone would get hurt if she did not comply, police said.
Police said Berke lifted his shirt to show that he was armed with a handgun.
Police said he took the narcotics provided by the clerk and ran from the store. They said a witness saw him as he ran through the store and followed him outside, watching him get into a white truck and drive eastbound on Sadler Road.
The witness, an off-duty Nassau County Sheriff's Office supervisor, followed Berke to a nearby hotel while coordinating with responding police officers from the Fernandina Beach Police Department, police said.
Berke was arrested by police as he attempted to exit the truck, officers said.
His vehicle and hotel room were secured by police pending search warrants.