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DAYTONA BEACH — A local pharmacist was arrested on allegations he stole $6,350 worth of controlled substances from a radiology center at Halifax Health Medical Center.
Matthew Kaye, 44, of Port Orange, was employed at the Radiology Oncology Center at Halifax Health Medical Center, 303 N. Clyde Morris Blvd., when he committed the offenses, according to the Daytona Beach Police Department.
He was charged with theft of a controlled substance and drug trafficking. He was picked up Wednesday morning on an arrest warrant by Port Orange police and booked at the Volusia County Branch Jail, where he eventually posted bail and was released. His bail amount was not available Friday.
Police said they were first notified of the medication theft on June 28, at which time the pharmacy director told the investigator that a nurse had discovered a vial of the opioid Dilaudid floating in the toilet in the locked employee restroom.
The same pharmacy director later learned that at least 750 doses of Dilaudid had gone missing, according to a report.
The director spoke to Kaye and Kaye admitted to stealing medications, police said.
Kaye was placed on administrative leave and was given a drug test, which is hospital policy, the report stated.
After the results of the test came back, Kaye was fired, police said.
On July 24, the pharmacy director provided authorities with a list of medications that were unaccounted for from July 1, 2016 through June 30 of this year, according to the report. That’s how the director ascertained that $6,350 worth of drugs had been stolen.
Police said Kaye and his supervisors were the only people who had a key to the cabinet containing the medications.