Charges include robbery, kidnapping, trafficking
Area law enforcement apprehended the suspect accused of robbing the Columbus Medicap Pharmacy on Tuesday, Aug. 16 just hours after the incident.
Michael Spencer Bolling, 31, of 77 Medford Rd., Tryon, was arrested and charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of second degree kidnapping, two counts of trafficking opium, one count of felony possession of a schedule II controlled substance and one count of felony maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance, according to the Columbus Police Department.
Additionally, not related to the actual robbery, the Columbus Police Department arrested Anthony Dion Constance, 51, of 623 Will Green Rd., Tryon, who was charged with receiving stolen property, possession of a firearm by a felon, felony probation violation, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, possession of a schedule IV controlled substance and possession of a schedule II controlled substance, according to police reports.
At 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, Bolling is accused of entering Medicap Pharmacy, located on Shuford Drive in Columbus, wearing a ski mask, demanding medication and stating he had a gun in his pocket. Bolling allegedly left the pharmacy with a substantial amount of prescription medication and fled the area in a vehicle, according to reports.
A multi-agency investigation and search by the Columbus Police Department, Tryon Police Department, Saluda Police Department, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina Highway Patrol, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina Department of Probation led to the arrest of the suspect on Will Green Rd. in the Green Creek community of Polk County at 12:52 p.m. on Aug. 16, Columbus Police Chief Chris Beddingfield said.  A portion of the medication and items involved in the robbery were subsequently recovered, according to Beddingfield.
Officers said they identified the vehicle the suspect escaped in following the robbery. Using information gained through interviews, officials said they found Bolling’s vehicle at Constance’s residence in Green Creek.
By the time officers arrived at Constance’s residence, Bolling had left, but he was captured in Constance’s neighborhood, according to reports.
“I credit multiple agency cooperation and good old fashioned police work as key factors that led to a fairly quick apprehension of the perpetrator,” said Beddingfield. “We set up a perimeter, followed leads, developed a suspect and apprehended him. When you can bring seven law enforcement agencies together and work as one, you can accomplish a lot.  Medicap pharmacy also needs to be credited as well. Their staff was instrumental in the investigation and apprehension.”
Bolling was being held at the Polk County Jail as of Wednesday, Aug. 17, under a $250,000 secured bond. Constance was being held under a $21,000 bond.
Both suspects had their first appearance in court yesterday, Aug. 17. Bolling will have another first appearance on Friday, Aug. 19 on some of the charges made yesterday.