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Man Arrested for Stealing Drugs from Togiak Clinic

DILLINGHAM: George Washington Kase, 25, originally of Dillingham, was arrested Friday afternoon in Togiak for alleging breaking into the village clinic pharmacy and stealing prescription medications.

Kase had been employed as a peer mentor at the Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation’s Behavioral Health Center, and had been speaking to others about addiction and recovery. The hospital said he was fired following the arrest Friday.

Video surveillance showed Kase entering the pharmacy late on Thursday night or early Friday morning. After an investigation, the troopers said Kase took small amounts of tylenol, morphine, codeine, lorezepam, diazepam and other controlled substances. According to the troopers, Kase admitted to taking the narcotics and using some before flushing the rest down the toilet.

Kase told the troopers he is a recovering drug addict, but was struggling with relapse issues. He has a 2013 conviction on his record from Anchorage for possessing small amounts of narcotics, and is on unsupervised probation.

Damage to the clinic was estimated at $8000.

Kase was arraigned at the Dillingham court Saturday on seven class C felony charges, and three misdemeanors. Bail was set at $25,000 cash.