Overdose leads to burglary arrest

David Lee Gargus

A local man was charged in a pharmacy break-in after medical personnel treating him for an overdose found the stolen medication in his clothing, authorities said.

David Lee Gargus, 29, 604 South Jackson Ave., Russellville, was charged with second-degree theft of property, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, and two counts of third-degree burglary.

According to Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett, The Drug Shop, a pharmacy located in the Big Star shopping center on Jackson Avenue in Russellville, was broken into late last Wednesday night.

Hargett said 2,500 Klonopin pills and 30 fentanyl patches were taken during the break in.

He also said that two other buildings in the shopping center showed signs that someone had attempted to break into those buildings as well.

Police investigator Lt. Scotty Lowery said while the break-ins were being investigated, the police department received a call from medical personnel about 1:30 a.m. Friday stating a patient being treated for an apparent accidental overdose appeared to have stolen medication.

“When the medical staff were cutting off the man’s clothes to treat him for the overdose, they found a large bag of prescription pills in his underwear,” Lowery said.

“The pills matched those that were stolen from the pharmacy, so we went to his residence and obtained consent to search the residence where we found the remainder of the stolen medication as well as other items that implicated him in the break-in.”

Gargus was charged and transferred to the Franklin County Jail where he remains in custody.