Monday, April 1, 2013
Dr. John Brownlee pleaded guilty to trying to scam a Mentor Kmart for Tramadol; has previously had his medical license suspended for drug abuse
A doctor who was accused of scamming pain killers from a pharmacy in Mentor has pleaded guilty to three counts of deception to obtain a dangerous drug and one county of illegal processing of drug documents. John Brownlee, 46, of Highland Heights, is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5 by Lake County Court of Common Pleas Judge Joseph Gibson. He could receive any punishment from community control to four years in prison. He could also be ordered to never practice medicine again. Assistant Lake County Prosecutor Alexandra Kutz said that Brownlee visited three different doctors and asked them to prescribe him tramadol, and he didn't tell the doctors he was already receiving drugs from other physicians. This practice is sometimes called doctor…
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Investigators say that Jeff Norwood received cocaine shipments from California and distributed them in Northeast Ohio
A Mentor man is accused of selling cocaine in Lake County. Investigators from U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lake County Narcotics Agency arrested Jeff Norwood of Mentor and Jacob France of Van Nuys, CA, on Thursday. Investigators claim that Norwood received multiple shipments of large quantities of cocaine from France. France would ship the cocaine from California and Norwood would supply it to his Ohio customers, primarily in Lake County, according to the LCNA. On Sept. 27, 2012, agents searched Norwood's home and seized a large sum of cash, weapons and a vehicle. Both Norwood and France were charged with conspiring to distribute cocaine. If convicted, the defendants face up to 40 years in federal prison and a maximum fine …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Scott and Crystal Strauss are accused of altering an oxycodone prescription so they could refill it sooner
A married couple is accused of doctoring an oxycodone prescription in an attempt to get the prescription refilled earlier than is legally allowed. Scott Strauss, 39, and Crystal Strauss, 27, both of Wickliffe, were each arraigned on a charge of illegal processing of a drug document Wednesday in Mentor Municipal Court. On January 24, they tried to use the doctored prescription at the Walgreens in Mentor but a sharp-eyed pharmacist noticed, according to the Lake County Narcotics Agency. Both Strausses were released on a personal bond. If convicted of illegal processing of a drug document, a person could face any punishment from probation to 18 months in prison.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Lisa Rachek has been charged with a felony count of theft of drugs
A nurse is accused of stealing drugs from Heartland of Mentor, an assisted living and rehabilitation center where she worked. Lisa Rachek, 52, is suspected of taking 15 oxycodone pills from Heartland on Oct. 1, 2012. Authorities confronted Rachek after the drugs went missing, said Investigator Alex Friel of the Lake County Narcotics Agency's Pharmaceutical Diversion Division. She was charged with one felony count of theft of drugs and arraigned Thursday in Mentor Municipal Court. Rachek has no previous drug-related convictions or even charges, Friel said. She was released on a personal bond. Her next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 31.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Dr. John Brownlee is accused of trying to scam a Mentor Kmart for tramadol; has previously had his medical license suspended for drug abuse
- POLICE & FIRE
- Jason Lea
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Wednesday, October 24, 2012
A doctor with a history of substance abuse was arraigned on a charge of deception to obtain a dangerous Tuesday in Mentor Municipal Court. John Brownlee, 46, of Highland Heights, is accused of trying to scam tramadol -- a pain killer -- from the Kmart in Mentor on May 30, according to court records. Brownlee is being investigated by the Lake County Narcotics Agency. He turned himself in Tuesday, was arraigned and released on a personal bond. Brownlee has been censured by the State Medical Board of Ohio before for his drug use, according to documents on the Ohio License Center's web site. (The aforementioned documents have been attached to this story as a PDF.) In 2006, the Board suspended Brownlee's medical license for 270 days. After …
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
James Omersa is charged with deception to obtain a dangerous drug
- POLICE & FIRE
- Jason Lea
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Tuesday, August 14, 2012
A duo are accused of using a Mentor print shop to create fake prescriptions, which they used to scam Adderall from local pharmacies. The pharmacy at the Mentor Walmart and a local physician became suspicious of James Omersa, 39, of Painesville, after he repeatedly came to the department store to get a prescription for Adderall filled. Even though the doctor had only given Omersa a single-use prescription, Omersa had come to the department store to have it filled "about a dozen times," Lake County Narcotics Agent Christopher Begley said. Omersa owns the Print Shack, a print shop on East Avenue. When narcotics agents and Mentor Police searched it, they found several fake blank prescription sheets, Begley said. "He'd taken the original, …
Friday, May 4, 2012
James Sample is accused of illegal manufacturing of drugs, illegal assembly of meth, aggravated possession of drugs and possessing criminal tools
A Mentor man accused of running a shake-and-bake or one-pot methamphetamine lab out of his home was arraigned Friday on drug charges in Lake County Court of Common Pleas. James Sample, 45, was charged with illegal manufacturing of drugs, illegal assembly of meth, aggravated possession of drugs and possessing criminal tools. Sample pleaded not guilty on all charges and remained in prison, unable to post his $25,000 bond. Sample was arrested on Jan. 27 when Mentor Police and Lake County Narcotics agents raided the mechanic's garage where he lived on East Avenue. Authorities found several of the tools and ingredients for making meth -- Sgt. Brad Kemp of the Lake County Narcotics Agency said, including: Authorities also found long guns, …
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
There are things you can watch and listen for.
The thing about drug operations is they can be set up anywhere, anytime. And occasionally, it's not just police officers who work to find the bad guys. It may all boil down to a tip given by an observant resident. Here are some things to watch for regarding suspicious neighborhood drug activity, according to Cuyahoga Falls Police Capt. Jack Davis: "These things in themselves may not necessarily mean that a drug house is evident, but they do arouse suspicions," said Davis. "...This reporting may be done anonymously, however it is helpful if you are willing to leave your information for follow up questions." After a report is provided, it may not always result in a drug arrest as some tips simply lead to dead ends. At times, it takes …
Friday, April 6, 2012
Matthew Wilczinski was charged by the Lake County Narcotics Agency
A Mentor man is accused of selling fake Ecstasy by the Lake County Narcotics Agency. Matthew Wilczenski, 22, was arraigned on a charge of selling counterfeit drugs Thursday in Mentor Municipal Court. Judge John Trebets released him on a personal bond. Wilczenski's next court hearing is scheduled for April 19. If Wilczenski were to be convicted, he could be sentenced to probation or up to a year in prison.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
The classes cover everything from Internet safety to personal self-defense
- POLICE & FIRE
- Jason Lea
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Tuesday, April 3, 2012
The Wildwood Cultural Center is presenting a series of public service meetings on family and personal security and safety. These sessions are free and open to the public. They will be led by police officers from local departments, as well as other safety professionals. All sessions will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. on listed Tuesdays in the South Wing at Wildwood Cultural Center. While both adults and children are welcome to attend these sessions. children must be accompanied by a parent. The sessions are: For more information on each topic, please call Wildwood Cultural Center at 440-974-5735. Though admission is free, registration is required for the individual sessions.
Rayna Norwood
6:13 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Say that to my face words r actions and u said it so I'm sure ur a bitch more ›