An Anchorage Police officer shot a masked and armed burglary suspect as he fled an Eagle River pharmacy in the early morning hours of Oct. 22.

Officer Hunter Hasbrouck, a 4-1/2-year veteran, shot the suspect, Mark Sanchez, 25, of Eagle River twice in the chest as he exited the back door of Family Pharmacy on Business Boulevard.

A silent alarm at the pharmacy alerted police at 12:58 a.m. When officers arrived at the scene, Sanchez exited the store, wearing a face mask, and carrying a crowbar, backpack and hand gun.

After Sanchez refused to drop the weapon, and then motioned toward an officer in a threatening manner, a patrolman fired multiple shots, hitting Sanchez in the chest.

Sanchez was taken to Alaska Regional Hospital. He underwent surgery, and was listed in critical condition.

According to police, Sanchez was attempting to steal narcotics, which he stowed in the backpack. The drugs were returned to the pharmacy.

The staff at pharmacy spent the all day Oct. 22 counting prescriptions, trying to find out if anything was missing after the break-in.

"The alarm system worked, the police got here in a timely manner, and there's no drugs on the street, so everything's good," said owner Connie Srebernak. "It's happened once before, but we caught them that time too. We'll clean things up and go back to work."

Sanchez grew up in the Chugiak-Eagle River area, graduating from Chugiak High School in 2004. After high school he joined the Marine Corps, serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom as a medic. He was injured during his service and received a medical discharge.

Upon returning to Eagle River he found work at the Heart of Eagle River Medical Clinic, where he was employed until March, when he was arrested.

Investigators with the Mat-Su Narcotic Unit, assisted by the Alaska State Troopers Major Offenders Unit and the Anchorage Police Department, arrested Sanchez March 12, 2009, for illegally obtaining prescriptions drugs, using a stolen and forged prescription form, and distribution of a controlled substance.

According to court records, Sanchez was an employee at the Eagle River-based medical clinic and had stolen the prescription pad from the clinic and forged several prescriptions for narcotics. He then sold the prescription to several people.

He was arrested on 12 felony counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, five misdemeanor charges of forgery and five counts of criminal impersonation, also a misdemeanor.

He was released on $25,000 bond and required to wear an ankle-monitoring device.

The court issued a bench warrant for his arrest Oct. 21, after learning Sanchez had removed the ankle monitor. The court also added three charges of theft and one charge for violating the terms of his release.

APD spokesman Lt. David Parker said officer Hasbrouck acted within the department's clearly defined rules for when it is appropriate to use deadly force.

"According to out protocol, deadly force is to be used only in situations when it is necessary to preserve life," Parker said. "Whether that be the life of the officer, a civilian or in some cases the suspect."

Because the incident involved a shooting the APD Homicide Unit is investigating.

Reach the reporter at darrell.breese.@alaskastar.com.