A Lafayette man who is a suspect in the May 22 armed robbery of Family Drug Mart on Gause Boulevard was captured by Lafayette police Wednesday after a five-hour standoff.

Slidell police spokesman Capt. Kevin Foltz reported that Duane Mahne, 40, of Lafayette was arrested for an armed robbery in Calcasuieu Parish.

Foltz said Slidell Detective Sean McClain went to Lafayette to talk to the suspect. McClain said Mahane admitted to the Slidell robbery, and the detective will get a warrant issued charging Mahane with armed robbery.

Mahne

However, the Slidell Police will have a long wait before they get their hands on Mahane. Not only is he wanted for the Slidell and Calcasuieu Parish robberies, he is also a suspect in about 20 other robberies in Lake Charles, Welsh, Opelousas, Alexadria, Ville Platte, Sunset, Carencro, Port Barre, Cecilia, Arnaudville, Kaplan, Jeanerett, Eunice, Morgan City, Maurice, Crowley, and Bunkie.

“We’re like 15th in line to get this guy,” McClain said.

The detective said Mahane told him he had been committing armed robberies of pharmacies for about a year after he became addicted to prescription drugs.

In the Slidell robbery, Mahane allegedly entered Family Drug Mart around 1 p.m. and pointed a semiautomatic pistol at the pharmacist and clerk. According to the victims, Maherne did not make any demands but walked behind the pharmacist’s counter and strolled through the prescription drug shelves.

He finally left the store through the back door with an undetermined amount of cash and drugs. No one was hurt during the robbery.

Slidell police were able to get a good description of him because the pharmacy’s video surveillance camera was able to photograph Mahane.

Wednesday, Lafayette police got a tip Mahane was at his house. Local, state and federal law enforcement agents descended on Mahane’s house. After a five-hour standoff in which streets were closed to traffic, Mahane gave himself up without a fight.

Foltz said McClaine worked closely with agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency, who kept Slidell police informed of all the robberies.

Slidell Police Chief Freddie Drennan was glad there were no injuries or fatalities in all the robberies but said Mahane is an example of what drugs can do to a person.

“Addiction to prescription medication can make people do desperate things,” Drennan said.