Midwest City police arrested an Oklahoma City man in connection with a pharmacy break-in early Thanksgiving morning.
Details of the Case
Police responded to an alarm at a Midwest City pharmacy, where they saw a suspect leaving the business with a box. The suspect fled, and Justin Patterson, 23, was arrested after he crashed a stolen pickup in a brief high-speed chase.
At the time of his arrest Patterson was found to be in possession of 3,000 Lortab pills. The truck he was driving at the time of the burglary and chase had been reported stolen from an area night club an hour prior to the pharmacy break-in. Patterson was arrested on multiple criminal complaints as a result of the incident, including possession of a stolen motor vehicle, second degree burglary, possession of stolen property, larceny of a motor vehicle.
He faces an additional possession for sale charge and of possession of controlled dangerous substances with intent to distribute. Midwest City Police Chief Brandon Clabes reports that Lortab, a painkiller, has a street value of approximately $20 per pill. He says that police are investigating the possibility that Justin Patterson is connected to another Midwest City pharmacy burglary earlier this month. Lortab was also stolen in that break-in.
Penalties for Possession with Intent to Distribute in OK
Oklahoma drug possession with intent to distribute is a felony punishable by two years to life in prison and up to $20,000 in fines.
In an effort to minimize drug abuse and illegal drug distribution in Oklahoma, district attorneys aggressively prosecute Oklahoma drug crimes. Whether the charge is possession for personal use, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to distribute, manufacture or cultivation, or drug trafficking, prosecutors will vigorously seek the harshest penalties allowed.
Anyone arrested for a drug offense in Oklahoma should contact an experienced defense lawyer immediately.