CLAY WOMAN ARRESTED FOR FRAUDULENT PRESCRIPTION

(05/11/2006)
A Clay County woman has been arrested in Braxton County in a fraudulent prescription scheme.

Laura Townsend, using the name "Sherri Larch," entered the CVS store in Gassaway and attempted to obtain 90 hydrocodone using a falsified prescription.

Suspicious of a call regarding the prescription, pharmacist Kathleen Fitzpatrick telephoned Dr. Mark Waddell at Braxton County Memorial Hospital. Waddell confirmed that the prescription was fraudulent.

Deputies set up surveillance in the store and arrested Townsend.

Police said while in route to the Central Regional Jail, Townsend attempted to access a deputy sheriff's service weapon from his holster.

The Braxton Democrat reported that Townsend stated during an interview at Central Regional Jail, that she did in fact have intentions of hurting or killing one or both deputies.

Townsend faces a multitude of charges.

The Braxton Sheriff's department has uncovered information that indicates other Clay County residents may have telephoned fraudulent prescriptions to other pharmacies in surrounding counties.