Times staff
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Clearwater
Dozens of pain pill scrips, 19 drug charges
A Largo woman accused of fraudulently obtaining 5,670 oxycodone pills in about a year's time has been arrested outside a Clearwater pharmacy, authorities said. Angela Louise Johnson, 40, of 728 Third Ave., was arrested Monday afternoon on 19 charges, including obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and trafficking in an illegal substance of more than 4 grams. Johnson was being held in the Pinellas County Jail in lieu of $545,000 bail. About 1:30 p.m., Johnson left the Rx Shop on S Fort Harrison Avenue with a bag of 240 oxycodone pills, according to a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office arrest report. Forty of the pills weighed 5 grams. Since Sept. 30, 2009, Johnson has had prescriptions for oxycodone filled at least 25 times, and none of the pharmacists knew that she doctor shopped, according to the arrest report.
Keep unwanted drugs out of water
The Clearwater Police Department will hold a medication dropoff event Saturday for people to safely discard unused or expired prescription drugs. The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Westfield Countryside mall, 27001 U.S. 19 N. Residents can simply drive up, drop off the items and drive away, no questions asked. This event helps prevent unwanted drugs from being flushed away or thrown in the garbage, which can end up in the county landfill or the water supply. No biohazards or needles will be accepted. For more information, call (727) 562-4333.
Safety Harbor
Teen charged with DUI in June crash
A Clearwater teenager involved in an accident with a Pinellas sheriff's deputy in June has been arrested, authorities said. Gabrielle Granata was arrested just before 12:30 p.m. Tuesday and charged with driving under the influence. The arrest came one day after Granata's 18th birthday and nearly three months after the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said she turned into Deputy Robert Wojciechowski's path about 12:30 a.m. June 23. The accident happened near McMullen-Booth Road, as Granata tried to make a right from the inside lane of State Road 580. Wojciechowski, 44, was in the center lane in a marked cruiser when he hit Granata's 1998 Toyota Camry. Also inside the Camry were two passengers: Teela Armstrong, 17, and Corey Lott, 18, both of Oldsmar. Everyone was hospitalized with nonlife-threatening injuries and released. Because Granata was a juvenile at the time of the crash, she was booked into the Pinellas Juvenile Assessment Center. An investigation is ongoing.
Tarpon Springs
One-day lesson in safe boating
Registration is under way for a one-day safe boating program offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 11-9 of Tarpon Springs. The program will be held at 9 a.m. Oct. 9 in the Riverview Venue Restaurant, 18 Dodecanese Blvd., Tarpon Springs. Call (727) 372- 0103.
