School Nurse Arrested, Stole Pills From Elementary Children (VIDEO)
A woman who was previously identified as an elementary school nurse was arrested in Pasco County, Fla Friday on allegations that she stole medication from children attending the school.
Kimberly Dawn Smith resigned from her position at New River Elementary in Wesley Chapel Friday after admitting that she was guilty of stealing medications belonging to students and swapping them out with other pills. Smith was arrested Friday at her home after making "incriminating statements," according to Tampa Bay Fox news.
Sheriffs told the station that Smith was taking the medication of children who have been diagnosed with ADHD and was swapping the meds out for other pills. Some of the prescriptions included Ritalin, but motive for Smith's actions was not immediately clear. It is also unclear what the drugs were being replaced with.
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Tampa Fox confirmed that Smith had been disciplined by the Department of Health in a previous incident. Her nursing license was suspended at that time and Smith was working at the school without one. Reports initially claimed that Smith was a full-time nurse at the school, but a spokesperson from the school later clarified that Smith was only working as a clinic assistant- a position that does not require a license.
Smith, 39, is now facing charges of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. The investigation against Smith was launched after parents complained that their children were missing pills from their prescription. Bay News 9 confirmed that at least two students were involved in the incident.
Information on the case is still developing. Ritalin is a common drug prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Some believe that Ritalin can be used to lose weight or improve studying abilities.
