Okotoks RCMP have charged a local grocery store pharmacist for alleged theft of narcotics spanning five years.
Okotoks RCMP have charged a local grocery store pharmacist for alleged theft of narcotics spanning five years.
Police were contacted by loss prevention officers at the Okotoks Safeway who alerted them to the diversion of a significant amount of narcotics from the pharmacy.
An investigation by RCMP officers revealed more than 33,000 tablets of narcotics were allegedly stolen by the pharmacist by creating fake patients, logging fake prescriptions, and taking the narcotics from the store.
According to RCMP Cpl. Curtis Peters, the narcotics were Schedule 1 drugs, which covers opioids such as Oxycodone and morphine.
Leanne Rogalsky, 52, of Calgary is charged with fraud over $5,000, theft over $5,000, breach of trust, 15 counts of trafficking a controlled substance and 15 offences contrary to the Narcotics Control Regulations.
Cpl. Peters noted that that breach of trust is a serious and uncommon charge.
“When persons in those trusted positions abuse that trust it has a real impact on the community and society as a whole,” said Peters.
Rogalsky has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear in Okotoks Provincial Court on Dec. 22.
