Police give elderly man drug charges after pharmacy issues incorrect prescription
An 83-year-old man and his wife were violently arrested because of a pharmacy screw up.
http://www.policestateusa.com/2014/robert-cirpinski-pharmacy/
From the article:
BURLINGTON, WI — Police were asked to retrieve a bottle of pills that hat been incorrectly issued to an elderly patient. When the 83-year-old man asked that police “sign for” the pills before leaving his home, the officer became violent and threw him to the ground and arrested him on felony charges of drug possession and theft. His 76-year-old-wife also received a knee to the back as she was arrested and charged with obstructing.
Multiple Burlington Police officers were dispatched to the Cirpinski home to retrieve the mistakenly issued bottle. They demanded the elderly couple relinquish the bottle. Mr. Cirpinski felt uncomfortable handing off the bottle without documentation, so he requested that the officer sign a statement that she had received the drugs.
“I said ‘you can have it if you sign for it,’” Mr. Cirpinski recalled, according to the Times. “Not that you’re not trustworthy, but it’s a drug. He (the police sergeant) said, ‘I don’t sign for anything.’”
Mr. Cirpinski stated that the officer then tried to grab him, but he pulled back. The officer then “grabbed me and threw me to the floor, put my arms behind my back.”
Mr. Cirpinski said after he was handcuffed, officers “begin to handle” his wife. She was allegedly thrown down, received a knee to the back, and handcuffed.
Police charged Mr. Cirpinski with felony narcotics possession, theft (of the “missing” pills), and resisting arrest. Beverly was charged with obstructing police.
In the comments section The name of the pharmacy is Pharmacy Station Inc. and the owner is Steven Spitzer.
Just imagine the clinic CALLED THE POLICE to correct the ERROR by the pharmacy and/or the clinic..
Here is the police dept and officers involved info:
Filed under: General Problems
Better yet Tye on the needles…..use an opaque laundry detergent bottle for needle disposal. Break off the needles and toss both into the bottle. When full, duct tape the cap, write Do Not Recycle on it and toss into trash. You still can flush meds down the toilet including fentanyl patches. Wastewater treatment plants filter and dilute medications below EPA accepted amounts. IF its a septic system I ususally don’t recommend flushing but one of the other alternatives. EPA and FDA sites still recommend flushing medications. My source is my dad who is a toxicologist. He also states that alot of what is reported is scare tactics and junk science of drugs in our water systems they don’t tell you what the EPA acceptable levels are and in the larger picture levels are negligible. There’s often alot worse dumped into the waterways that isn’t treated.
why all up in arms? If a junkie wants to weed through a dumpster for hours to get enough scraps for a high who gives a crap. I thought this was a free country? Free to ruin your life if that is what you choose, who’s the guy hurting? He may be saving a feral cats life.
All these rules and laws do more damage than a junkie could ever do if he could get his ‘fix’ for what it was really worth, not inflated black market prices. What drug problem did we have before the Harrison Act? Not much of one from the literature I’ve read. Lets adults make decisions for themselves even if they are detrimental to their health, too many concerned citizens and people wanting the govt/police to be babysitters. Get a life.
“Dumpster Divers” scavenge fentenyl patches from areas adjacent to retirement homes and hospices. Always take all drugs, and destroy completely. Do not flush.Place controlled Rx’s in coffee grounds and soak with dish water detergent. Similar disposal with ANY TOXINS OR TURN INTO PROPER AUTHORITIES
Interestingly enough, it is now a crime or infraction to dispose of used insulin syringes in the trash. Dad had no expensive needed needle hasmat container and instead used gallon milk jugs. Seeing just how difficult it was going to be to find someone to take these needles off my hands to comply was tedious. After 7 fire stations and 3 ambulance companies, the county hospital took them. 3 hours to obey the ordinance.
Oh, my. 7 long years ago I was given a 1st offensive DUI for having a controlled drug in my glove box. Albeit in the original container, six patrol units were on scene. My lawyer told me with that many on the site, the jury will go with them. You have little chance. The RN walked away without drawing a specimen. I went down as a refusal. I never refused. The officer just said: “let’s go”. Justice denied, is guilt inferred. Ow! 10,000.00 USD’S and lesson learned!
It seems that no matter what a cop does… they “did not violate our policies and procedures” .. looking at most of these incidents.. one could come to the conclusion is that you can’t violate policies and procedures that don’t exists and/or so broad/vague.. that no one – short of causing a death without cause – could not possibly violate them.. It is as if most cops literally have “diplomatic immunity”.
Police chief got my opinion on what should happen to officers. Even suggested that better leadership would be a option.
Please say that it isn’t true. How on earth can this situation be taken sitting down in the USA. Praying that phone is ringing from attorneys. Shameful. Officers should be fired along with some others.
Talk about government overreach. I read this story on another site and clearly the pharmacy overreacted by contacting the police when it was THIER techs mistake for filling it. It was already on the mans profile. An overzealous prosecutor, judge and ineffective defense counsel added to this mess. Be nice to see if the ACLU or a more savvy attorney would take this case pro bono to file an appeal/lawsuit to clear this gentleman’s name/record.
He probably refused when asked by pharmacy
Asking for the second identifier (i.e. DOB) has saved me from selling an Rx to the wrong party many times.
Once heard a story of tech who’s husband was a poster carrier. Another tech had accidentally sold control Rx to wrong party. The postal carrier’s help was elicited to track down the incorrect party as the name and address on file were outdated.
Not sure how they got it back or how much of HIPPA was violated.
Wow! Just, Wow! We’re our own worst enemies. Way to build support for independent community pharmacy. Call patient maybe? Drop by and exchange it personally? You know, do what the big guys can’t?