Pharmacy Tech arrested on controlled substance theft

SPRING HILL – A Walgreens pharmacy technician was arrested Tuesday on charges of grand theft of a controlled substance, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.

Video surveillance from the store at 14320 Spring Hill Drive showed Jacqueline Nicole McDermott, 29, of Brooksville, putting Carisoprodol pills in her coat pocket.

McDermott was seen taking the muscle relaxers four times between May 24 and 31. McDermott had worked as a pharmacy tech at the Spring Hill store for 12 years, according to the affidavit.

A loss prevention manager said about 1,000 pills were unaccounted for. McDermott, who confessed to stealing pills on six different occasions, said she took about 200.

McDermott said she thought about taking the pills herself or giving them to her ill father, but later threw them away.

The woman posted $2,000 bond on Tuesday afternoon.

Court records show McDermott was charged with DUI and driving on a suspended or revoked license in April.