Temecula man charged with armed robbery of Menifee CVS

A Temecula man being held without bail faces multiple charges regarding two armed robberies, including one at the CVS Pharmacy at Newport Road and Bradley Road in Menifee, according to authorities.

Sheriff's deputies responded to the pharmacy at 3:18 a.m. on May 27, according to a news release. According to witnesses, a male held up both cashiers at gunpoint. The suspect took both victims to the pharmacy section and demanded specific medication. He then took an undisclosed amount of cash, several thousand dollars in medication and fled the scene, according to police.

Investigators determined that the suspect description matched that of a robbery suspect in Temecula several hours earlier. In that incident, reported at 12:12 a.m., an armed robbery took place in the 31900 block of Rancho California Road. The suspect fled prior to police arriving.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Joshua Phillips, 21, who was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center on charges including robbery and possession of a loaded stolen firearm. He is jailed in the Robert Presley Detention Center, awaiting a June 10 court date in Murrieta.