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Ex-Washington Hospital nurses arrested in drug thefts

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The state attorney general’s office Tuesday arrested two former Washington Hospital nurses on charges they stole narcotic painkillers while working there.

An agent charged Charlotte Ann Swiger, 31, of Wellsburg, W.Va., and Amanda E. Asbury, 32, of Pittsburgh, with theft and possession of controlled substances through misrepresentation on allegations they stole drugs, including oxycodone, from the hospital, which launched the investigations after discovering discrepancies in its automatic drug dispensing system, court records show.

Swiger allegedly stole the widest assortment of drugs, which also included morphine and hydromorphone, between March 17 and April 16, the affidavit indicates. The drugs stolen were valued at $450.

Asbury is charged with stealing oxycodone valued at about $50 between Oct. 13 and Nov. 12, the record shows.

The hospital at 155 Wilson Ave. fired both women upon learning the medications hadn’t been dispensed as charted.

The agent, Andrew M. Sakmar, on April 18 interviewed the hospital’s assistant pharmacy director, John Crumrine, and learned Swiger was suspected of making excessive removals of controlled substances from the automated machine, the affidavit indicates. The hospital that day also monitored the system when she withdrew two doses of morphine for a patient who was not due to receive the medication.

Hospital employees called her into an office and found one of the doses in her pocket. Other doses of hydrocondone allegedly were found in her purse after it was removed the locker room, the record states.

The agent met with pharmacy director Michael Jacobs in late 2012 and was told Asbury had been suspected of removing multiple unaccounted-for oxycodone doses, the record indicates. Hospital records also showed some of the drugs were dispensed at shorter intervals than what the physician had ordered.

Swiger faces nine felony counts of the controlled substances charge. Her attorney, Ansley S. Westbrook II of Pittsburgh, could not be reached Tuesday.

Asbury faces one count of the same charge. It was not immediately known if she hired an attorney to represent her in the case.

The women are both free on $10,000 unsecured bonds set by District Judge Robert Redlinger.

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