By Danny Valentine, Times Staff Writer
Friday, February 24, 2012
LAND O'LAKES — A 15-year veteran of the Pasco County Sheriff's Office was arrested Thursday after he was accused of doctor shopping.
The Sheriff's Office began investigating Deputy Larry Ray Sajko Jr., 35, towards the end of December after receiving a tip from an area pharmacist.
In an interview, he told deputies he was a patient at Interventional Pain Physicians, 5651 Gulf Drive in New Port Richey, and Comprehensive Pain Management Partners, 2044 Trinity Oaks Boulevard, Suite 220, in Trinity.
Between Jan. 3, 2011 and Nov. 2, he was seen by physicians at both practices within a 30-day period on nine occasions. During those visits, he received prescriptions for pain medication, including oxycodone and Percocet from both clinics.
Physicians at each location said they weren't aware he was receiving prescriptions for controlled substances elsewhere.
At the New Port Richey clinic, he signed an agreement informing him that it was illegal to obtain prescriptions for controlled substances from more than one physician without informing them what else he was taking.
Sajko admitted to using the medications. There was no evidence Sajko was selling the prescription, according to the Sheriff's Office.
He was booked into the Land O'Lakes jail Thursday. He was released after posting $2,000 bail.
Sajko was placed onto administrative leave on Dec. 30.
He was hired in November 1996 as a detention deputy. He became a deputy with road patrol in March 2010.