Four soon-to-be leathernecks proved their mettle last month, when they ran down a suspect who had just swiped an undisclosed quantity of over-the-counter drugs from a Middle Village pharmacy.
Three of the Marine recruits, Fabio Alves Desousa, Milton Mora and Jonathan Villa hail from Queens. The fourth recruit, Ricky Lazaro, is a native of Brooklyn, police sources said.
Each of the recruits is scheduled to report to the Marine training center at Paris Island, South Carolina this fall to begin their rigorous indoctrination into the U.S. Marine Corps.
The four recruits, along with Andreas Eras, of Queens, were in the final stage of a training session on June 25, running from Juniper Valley Park in Middle Village, to an Elmhurst Marine Corps Recruitment Center when they heard someone shouting for help.
Cops said the men spotted a man running from the pharmacy and gave chase – breaking out into two groups in an effort to block the suspect.
The frenzied suspect managed to escape capture, but in his rush to get away he dropped most of the stolen items, police sources said.
“These were over-the-counter medications that are easily transformed into powerful, illegal drugs used by addicts. In the wrong hands, these medications had the potential to become dangerous, addictive drugs that carry a high price on the street,” the sources said.
The five men gathered up the medications and returned them to the pharmacy, and headed to the recruitment center where they shared their story with on-duty Marines, police sources said.
Cops said the store manager requested anonymity, but hailed the actions of the young men.
“A Marine is a Marine, no matter what the circumstances,” police officials said. “They performed in a manner that represents the best this country has to offer. Marines don’t back down,” officials said.
Police said Eras, of East Elmhurst, is planning to sign-up with the Marine Corps when he graduates from high school in June of 2013.