ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A man is accused of breaking into a north St. Louis County pharmacy in March to rob the business and holding an employee hostage.

According to the St. Louis County Police Department’s probable cause statement, the robbery took place on March 31 at the Walgreens located at Chambers and Halls Ferry roads.

Employees told responding officers the store had been closed when a man broke the front glass door and forced his way inside.

Police claim the man, identified as Joseph Williams Jr. (no age provided), threatened two of the employees and demanded they give him money from the cash register. Williams threw one of the employees to the ground, then placed a female employee in a chokehold and dragged her to a utility room in the back of the store. Williams threatened to kill the employee.

A witness tried talking Williams into surrendering, but he kept making threats. Police arrived a short time later and took Williams into custody.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Williams with first-degree robbery, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree burglary, and three counts of armed criminal action.

Williams remains jailed on a $250,000 cash-only bond. He’s due in court on May 7 for a bond reduction hearing.