Police arrest Nampa woman in painkiller case
By Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Friday, February 13, 2009 11:05 AM PST
Ontario — Ontario Police Department officers arrested a Nampa woman after she attempted to purchase painkillers illegally at a local pharmacy Wednesday morning.
OPD Capt. Mark Alexander said Kerri Beckman, 34, or a friend called the Ontario Pharmacy, situated at 925 S.W. Third Ave., pretending to be a doctor and placed an order for painkillers.
Beckman said the painkillers were for her sister.
“The pharmacy found the circumstances to be suspicious and called the doctor, who had no knowledge of this person,” Alexander said.
Beckman was arrested and charged with six counts of tampering with drug records, prescription fraud and giving false information to a police officer.
OPD is also attempting to secure a search warrant on the Toyota van Beckman was operating at the time of the incident. They are also looking into similar incidents that may have involved Beckman as well.
“We’re seeing a little bit of a trend here,” Alexander said.
Alexander said OPD is working with other law enforcement agencies to learn how extensive the “trend” is.
Alexander said local pharmacies communicate with doctors office staffs often and are used for certain procedures and terminology when communicating with medical personnel.
He also said people who are addicted to painkillers will attempt to feed that addiction through a variety of methods, such as doctor-shopping, when a person visits many different doctors in an attempt to secure the drugs.
“We’ve seen cases of stolen prescription pads. We’ve seen forged prescriptions,” he said.
However, he said pharmacies are often aware of doctors handwriting, which make the forgeries easier to spot.
He also said those who are addicted to painkillers can go to even greater lengths to secure the drugs.
“I’ve heard stories about people going to dentists to get teeth pulled just to get the medication,” Alexander said.
However, he said he believed local doctors have a good network and communicate with each other in an effort to keep tabs on those who may be attempting to gain drugs for recreational purposes.
“I know the pharmacies do,” he said.
One Ontario resident expressed disdain for the trend of people lying to get prescription drugs.
“I think it’s wrong,” Kathleen Stout, 46, said.
In other public safety news:
—Jesus Solorio, 19, Ontario, who was originally slated to plea to charges of kidnapping in the second degree, burglary in the first degree, conspiracy to commit burglary in the first degree and assault in the second degree Thursday had his plea date postponed to 3:30 p.m. Friday in Malheur County court. Solorio’s plea connected to an incident in December where six individuals forced their way into the residence situated at 675 N.W. First St. and assaulted a 26-year-old Ontario man who lived there. Malheur County Deputy District Attorney Erin Landis said the setover is because Solorio’s defense attorney had a scheduling conflict.
—Marcos Delafuente, 34, Ontario, also had his plea hearing postponed because of a defense request to have more time for its investigation, Landis said. Delafuente’s plea is in connection with the August death of Apolonia Deleon, 20, Nyssa. His plea hearing is now slated for Feb. 23.
