3 Arrested For Prescription Drug Thefts
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
Shreveport Police detectives have now arrested and charged three people with crimes related to the theft of prescription narcotics and the sale of those drugs on the street.
Matthew Beckham, 23, Richard Stewart, 33, and Justin Reames, 25, all of Shreveport face multiple charges.
Beckham and Stewart were arrested around 4:30 a.m. on Nov. 29 after using a truck with a welded battering ram attached to the bed to break into the CVS Pharmacy at Hearne and Hollywood. Police officers captured the two as they left the business in the pickup truck.
On the same day, the Walgreen`s located at Pines Road and 70th Street had attempted to be broken into as well. Stewart was charged with both the CVS and the Walgreen`s cases, as well as another break-in that occurred at the same Walgreen`s on Sept. 15. Meanwhile, Beckham is charged with the CVS case and the Sept. 15 Walgreen`s case.
A search of Stewart`s home in the 1100 block of Homewood revealed 6,500 prescription narcotic pills that included Ritalin, Diazepam, Percocet, Demerol and Morphine. So, besides the burglaries, Stewart has now been charged with separate counts of possession of Schedule II, III and IV with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm with a Controlled Dangerous Substance, illegal possession of stolen things, obstruction of justice and switched VIN and license plates.
As part of the investigation, detectives were led to the home of Reames, who was found to be in possession of more stolen drugs. They seized pills, along with 10 pounds of marijuana and $5,200 of suspected narcotics proceeds. Reames has been charged with separate counts of possession of Schedule I, II and III with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm with a Controlled Dangerous Substance, obstruction of justice and failure to register as a sex offender.
The cases remain under investigation, as detectives are trying to determine if any of the seized narcotics were stolen from other local burglaries.
