Original publication date :	Friday, May 20, 1994
Delivery date :	Wednesday, August 31, 2005 9:38:38 am
Username :	dawilkerson :: (Log out)
Your query :	Stephen Cole
Charge for this story:	$1.95

FUSE TO PHARMACY
   A ROPE, COURT TOLD
   The prosecution called witnesses Thursday to show that former pharmacist, lawyer and stockbroker Bruce Leasure of Little Rock made sophisticated preparations to blow up the business of a man who was investigating him.
   Leasure's defense attorney spent the day portraying him as a man weakened and driven over the brink by a series of highly stressful events beyond his control.
   Leasure, 39, is on trial in Pulaski County Circuit Court on charges of burglary and attempted arson.
   The charges stem from a break-in July 5, 1993, at City Pharmacy at 1801 S. Broadway. The pharmacy was co-owned by Lester Hosto, director of the state Board of Pharmacy, which was looking into complaints about Leasure's business, the now-closed Generic Pharmacies at 4500 W. Markham St.
   On Thursday, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney W.A. McCormick presented testimony from authorities who responded after City Pharmacy's alarm sounded at 4:25 a.m.
   They described finding a broken window on an unused side of the building, a damaged door leading into the pharmacy, pools of gasoline inside -- and Leasure walking away.
   Officer Todd Hurd described finding bags of sugar inside both sides of the building and a rope extending from the pharmacy outside.
   Assistant Fire Marshal Barry Burke testified that "it appeared the rope would be used as a fuse to ignite the fire from a safe distance." He said an explosion would have destroyed the building and the sugar "apparently was... to enhance the burning."
   Detective Joe Leslie, who investigates arsons, told defense attorney Chip Welch that in an interview, Leasure detailed "disturbing" events that had befallen him since April, 27, 1992, when he shot and killed Stephen Cole, 40, who Leasure said held a knife on an employee, demanding drugs, and later turned on him with the knife.
   They included a divorce, a totaled car, financial troubles, computer problems that led to the board's investigation and two employees' quitting without notice. Leasure said he had seen a Memphis psychiatrist to help deal with the after-effects of the shooting and had contemplated suicide, Leslie said.
   Leslie and Chief Deputy Roy Hinson of the Pulaski County sheriff's office testified that officers who are forced to use deadly force often suffer emotional problems.
   A friend of Leasure's, lawyer Hugh Crisp, said Leasure became paranoid and "would tell me there were surveillance cameras in his business and that all his customers were undercover agents."

This story was published Friday, May 20, 1994