Man arrested for using sword to rob pharmacy

[March 12, 2011]  LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) -- Police in Virginia have arrested a man accused of trying to rob a Lynchburg pharmacy twice in the same day -- once while wielding a sword.

Lynchburg police arrested 27-year-old Michael Edward Towler and charged him with robbery, brandishing a weapon and attempted robbery. Pharmacist Michael Robertson says a man tried to rob the pharmacy Wednesday morning, but Robertson told him they had set off an alarm and police were on their way, so the man fled. Robertson says the man returned later that day in a lime-green raincoat, drew a samurai-style, 3-foot-long sword and got away with an undisclosed amount of narcotics. Towler was arrested later at his home. It was unclear Thursday evening if Towler had an attorney. ___ Information from: The News & Advance, http://www.newsadvance.com/ [Associated Press] Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.