Probation officer nabs robbery suspect

A Polk County probation/parole officer nabbed the suspect in the armed robbery of a pharmacy in Columbus on Aug. 15.

Officer Ben Lynch was at the home of probationer Anthony Constance later the same day, checking on a tip that Constance had drugs in violation of his supervision terms. Also at the house was Michael Bolling, who was being sought for holding up a pharmacy for the powerful painkiller Oxycontin.

Lynch had gone to Constance’s house to secure him, because the sheriff’s office had gotten a tip that Bolling had been seen there earlier. Constance is a known drug user, serving 24 months of supervision for growing marijuana.

Neither Lynch nor the Sheriff’s Office suspected that Bolling would be at Constance’s house, selling Oxycontin to the probationer. Deputies were searching for Bolling at his home while Lynch was at the Constance residence.

While Bolling was charged with armed robbery, kidnapping and drug trafficking, Constance was charged with receiving stolen property, possession of a firearm by a felon, felony probation violation, possession of drug paraphernalia and three counts of possession of drugs.
The arrests made Lynch a bit anxious. About a month ago he had charged with Constance with felony possession of firearms in violation of probation. Additionally, he knew that the pharmacy robbery suspect had allegedly been armed.

Law enforcement officials credited multiple-agency cooperation with the quick apprehension of the robbery suspect.

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