MITCHELL — A Mitchell woman was arrested Wednesday after an internal investigation at a local pharmacy found prescription medication had allegedly been stolen over an extended period of time.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Officer Nathaniel Bailey of the Mitchell Police Department, officers were dispatched around 2:50 p.m., March 25, to the 8800 block of State Road 60 in reference to a reported theft.
Upon arrival, an asset protection employee for the store told police that an internal investigation had determined an employee had been stealing prescription medication from the pharmacy for approximately one to two years.
The investigation found that Mandy Jo Heinz, a pharmacy technician, allegedly took a quantity of phentermine, a Schedule IV controlled substance, from the store. The total value of the medication was estimated at about $862.99, according to the report.
Police said Heinz provided a written statement during a meeting with store management in which she admitted to stealing the medication over a period of time. In the statement, she indicated the pills were taken for personal use and acknowledged she knew the actions were wrong and against policy.
Heinz was taken into custody at the scene without incident and transported to the Lawrence County jail, where she was booked on a preliminary charge of Level 6 felony theft.
The case remains under investigation.
Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
