A former registered hospital pharmacist is accused of stealing morphine and substituting the substance with saline solution at a Southern New Jersey hospital, where he worked before. According to the authorities, the man was arrested on his home at the Egg Harbor Township and faces the charges.
Frederick Mcleish, a 53 year old former pharmacist who once worked at a Southern New Jersey hospital is charged with drug tampering, theft by unlawful taking, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance, Fox News reported. The Atlantic County grand jury will also sentenced him 10 years in prison if convicted.
According to Press of Atlantic City, Mcleish was working at Shore Memorial Hospital in Somers Point when he committed the crime. He replaced morphine with saline solution in vials provided for the hospital patients back in July and September 2014, Officials said.
The hospital also conducted an internal investigation and brought in the state Division of Consumer Affairs and the Prosecutor's Office.
Officials from the hospitals suspended McLeish that September in 2014 and later on terminated his employment. He was arrested at his home in Windsor Drive, Egg Harbor Township, Thursday morning, Shore News Today reported. He was sent to the Atlantic County jail.
Mcleish also surrendered his pharmacy license in December 2014 to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs State Board of Pharmacy, according to the Prosecutor's office.
On January 21, Mcleish was lodged at the county jail by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office detectives. The former pharmacist is on a $20,000 cash bail, set by the Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Pamela M. Wild. The warrant was also issued by the Atlantic County Superior Court Judge.
Detective Michael Peterson of the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office is in charge with the case investigation while Assistant Prosecutor Aaron Witherspoon also represented the state before the grand jury.
