EDMONDS, Wash. — An Edmonds pharmacist was arrested on suspicion of felony drug possession and may be back to filling prescriptions as early as Friday, according to the Washington State Department of Health, because he’s being released from jail and no criminal charges have yet been filed.
Investigators with the Edmonds Police Department believe 47-year-old Saikrishna Arumilli was under the influence of prescription narcotics while filling prescriptions at Edmonds Pharmacy Wednesday.
Customer Rebecca Bowlden told KIRO 7 that pharmacist Saikrishna Arumilli was “completely slurring his words” and “falling over the counter” when she visited his pharmacy on Wednesday.
Bowlden was certain he was under the influence of something, so she called 911.
Edmonds police confirmed the same behavior, and arrested the pharmacy owner for suspicion of felony prescription pill possession.
“It was the manner in which he was in possession of the drugs that the officer noted,” Sgt. Josh McClure said.
The pills “were just loose in his pocket, they weren’t labeled. And when the pharmacist made note that he had been the only pharmacist on duty that whole day, that was a big red flag for us.”
According to Snohomish County Superior Court documents, Arumilli had dozens of loose pills on him when arrested -- including hydrocodone -- that he claimed were to treat his anxiety.
Documents also reveal that aid cars have been called to his pharmacy on 212th Street at least three times before, quote “due to concerns” about Arumilli’s behavior.
And KIRO 7 has learned, the pharmacist was also arrested in July for “drug related” Driving Under the Influence -- after he crashed his car into the fence in his parking lot.
KIRO 7 reporter Amy Clancy asked the Edmonds Pharmacy Officer Manager whether he knew about the July crash.
Cameron Nelson said he was aware of the crash and that it “was just an unfortunate accident.”
Nelson maintains that no customers are in danger now, or ever have been.
“I do not believe the public’s safety was at risk at all,” he said on Thursday when asked about his boss’s arrest.
According to the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office, Arumilli will be released from jail on personal recognizance.
Kitty Slater-Einert, Case Manager with the Washington State Department of Health told KIRO 7, because Arumilli hasn’t been charged with a crime, there’s nothing the DOH can do to keep him from filling prescriptions as early as tomorrow.
She did confirm the department has launched an investigation.
KIRO
