Hyde Park pharmacist charged with drug theft

CINCINNATI - A Hamilton County grand jury indicted Joseph Lutmer of Tischbein Pharmacy with four counts drug thefts.

Lutmer, 50, is the owner of the 90-year-old pharmacy located at 3500 Eerie Avenue in Hyde Park.

The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy.

Jesse Wimberly, a spokesperson for the board, told 9 News that on Sept. 5 Lutmer was traveling home from a vacation in Michigan when he fell ill.

Lutmer was admitted into Flower Hospital in Toledo. While there hospital staff noticed "stock bottles" of drugs from Tischbein Pharmacy in Lutmer's possession.

With knowledge that Lutmer was a pharmacist, staff at the hospital promptly notified the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy which launched an investigation. An agent conducted an audit at Tischbein and determined that from July 17, 2011 until Sept. 5, 2012 more than 4,000 tablets of Oxycodone and more than 500 tablets of Valium were missing.

The state board went to the Hamilton County Prosecutor's office with the results of the investigation. The grand jury returned with the four count indictment.

Lutmer has since had his license to practice pharmacy suspended.

"Yesterday the board deemed Mr. Lutmer unfit to practice pharmacy and a danger to the public and therefore suspended his license," said Wimberly.

While Lutmer owns Tischbein Pharmacy he technically does not own the drugs stored inside. Wimberly explains that the pharmacy owns the drugs.

After the judicial process has run its course the pharmacy board will hold a hearing to determine whether Lutmer's license should be revoked, reinstated or the suspension continued further.

Attempts to contact Lutmer by phone and at his home were unsuccessful Friday.