State, federal and local authorities are investigating the alleged mishandling of pharmaceutical drugs by Bledsoe County Emergency Medical Service director Larry Billingsley, according to officials in Pikeville, Tenn.
There have been no charges filed against Billingsley as the investigation continues today, according to officials at the Bledsoe County Jail.
Bledsoe County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Ricky Seals said this morning that Billingsley is not working in his position as EMS director for the time being.
The investigation began last week at Erlanger Health System, where Bledsoe’s EMS department gets pharmaceutical supplies for its ambulances, Seals said. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials at the Erlanger end of the probe contacted Bledsoe County on Friday about drugs being mishandled.
The investigation didn’t get rolling until this morning due to the federal holiday on Monday. Today officials are conducting interviews and meeting with fellow investigators, Seals said.
Ben Benton is a news reporter at the Chattanooga Times Free Press. He covers Southeast Tennessee and previously covered North Georgia education. Ben has worked at the Times Free Press since November 2005, first covering Bledsoe and Sequatchie counties and later adding Marion, Grundy and other counties in the northern and western edges of the region to his coverage. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Tenn., a graduate of Bradley Central High School. Benton ...
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