A 24-year-old man could face up to 14 years in prison after allegedly taking an undisclosed amount of money from Walgreens a couple of weeks ago. 

About 4:15 p.m. April 10, Rio Rancho Police Department received a call about a man, later identified as Brandon O’Keefe of Rio Rancho, who went inside the 7850 Enchanted Hills Blvd. NE store carrying a knife.  

He later told officers that “in an act of desperation,” he demanded money from a cashier, according to a criminal complaint.  

O’Keefe then left on foot, went west and was later seen at Extra Space Storage.

A police officer attempted to contact the suspect, who stopped near a fence line and knelt down. That was when he hid the knife in some dirt before heading toward a Family Dollar, the complaint states.  

Officers set up a perimeter around the store. Someone inside the store told the RRPD that O’Keefe ran inside and went into a bathroom. After the store was evacuated, police located O’Keefe, the money and clothes he changed out of in the bathroom. 

Officers also later located Valium tablets in his hand.

O’Keefe, who made no plea at an April 11 initial appearance, is accused of armed robbery, a second-degree felony; tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony in this case; resisting an officer, a misdemeanor; and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.  

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m. May 11. 

If convicted, he could face up to 14 years in prison and a $22,000 fine.