Former physician charged with Castle Shannon pharmacy robberies
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A former physician was arrested today on charges that he stole Fentanyl, oxycontin and other drugs from a Castle Shannon pharmacy.
Patrick R. Sullivan, 37, of Mount Lebanon, told police he used to work at a West Virginia hospital and was either dismissed or suspended because of drug problems, county police Lt. Jeffrey Korczyk said.
Police have accused Mr. Sullivan of stealing Fentanyl, oxycontin and syringes from the Lebanon Shops Pharmacy on Mount Lebanon Boulevard on the night between Aug. 21 and Aug. 22. Police said he then returned to the pharmacy on Oct. 9 and Oct. 18, stealing similar items while workers and customers were inside.
"He has this problem and he had no other means to obtain these narcotics," Lt. Korczyk said.
Mr. Sullivan declined to comment on the charges when police placed him in a car and transported him to the Allegheny County Jail this evening.
Lt. Korczyk said police arrested Mr. Sullivan near Mercy Hospital Thursday without any problems. He declined to say how police identified Mr. Sullivan as the suspect or how they knew the man would be at Mercy.
He did say police worked with community members to create a list of suspects.
Mr. Sullivan now faces seven counts of robbery, two counts of firearms violations, one count of burglary, theft, criminal mischief and drug possession.
Police said Mr. Sullivan showed a handgun, which police have not yet found, during the two robberies. No one was injured during either robbery.
Lt. Korczyk said Mr. Sullivan had been living off and on with his parents at a home on Roycroft Avenue in Mount Lebanon.
Police said they do not think Mr. Sullivan was responsible for an Oct. 30 attempted burglary at a nearby pharmacy.
Mr. Sullivan was being held in the Allegheny County Jail Thursday night on $50,000 bail, according to court records. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 22.
First Published November 3, 2011 5:55 pm
