Norwich City Police at the Walgreens Friday morning. The business was robbed Thursday night and the suspected robber was arrested and released Friday morning on an appearance ticket due to the new bail reform laws. (Photo by Tyler Murphy)

NORWICH – Thursday evening a 29-year-old man wearing a camouflage balaclava mask walked into the Norwich Walgreens on North Broad Street and allegedly demanded a cashier hand over all the cash in their register.

According to Chenango County District Attorney Michael Ferrarese the man walked into the store “put his hand in his pocket and told the clerk something along the lines of 'This is no joke, give me your money.'”

The suspect, David Daniel Brunell, of Norwich, was later arrested and charged with felony robbery and petit larceny, a misdemeanor, but due to bail reform laws passed by New York State that took effect in 2020, he will be released without bail on an appearance ticket.

“If I had my preference he would be in jail on bail. He is a risk and a danger to the community but unfortunately the bail laws passed by the New York legislature do not permit me to make that request,” said Ferrarese.

Ferrarese said Brunell had admitted to the crime after being arrested and police investigators said he wanted money to buy drugs.

At approximately 7:20 p.m., the Norwich City Police Department received a radio call of a robbery in progress at Walgreens Pharmacy at 82 North Broad Street in the City of Norwich. Officers arrived at Walgreens just after the suspect had fled with an undisclosed amount of money.