Pubdate: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 Source: Messenger-Inquirer (KY) Copyright: 2003 Messenger-Inquirer Contact: http://www.messenger-inquirer.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1285 Author: Justin Willis EX-DEPUTY JAILER INDICTED IN DRUG CASE A Daviess County grand jury heard presentations Tuesday that scrutinized the actions of two law enforcement officers, and one was indicted. The grand jury charged a former Daviess County deputy jailer with multiple prescription drug offenses. An Owensboro police officer was cleared in his role as the driver in an on-duty car crash which left a 22-year-old woman dead. A grand jury heard the facts of an exhaustive Kentucky State Police investigation into the May two-vehicle crash at J.R. Miller and Legion boulevards, said Daviess County Commonwealth Attorney Jay Wethington. The grand jury found no criminal fault with either of the two drivers, Officer Steve Morgan or Mandy Cook of Owensboro, Wethington said. Cook's passenger, Laurie Ann Clark Williams, 22, of the 4900 block of Windy Hollow Road, died from head and chest injuries. Morgan was responding to a request for backup at 1:48 a.m. May 18 when the collision occurred. Morgan's police Chevrolet Tahoe was southbound on J.R. Miller Boulevard as Cook's car was heading east on Legion Boulevard. The crash was investigated by a state police accident reconstructionist, Wethington said. The grand jury indicted former Daviess County Detention Center Deputy Tammy Ann Causey, 39, of the 6800 block of Kentucky 1389 in connection with a prescription drug conspiracy that allegedly involved inmate records at the jail. Causey was charged with six counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, six counts of second-degree forgery and two counts of tampering with physical evidence. All charges are Class D felonies punishable by one to five years imprisonment. None of the charges accuses Causey of taking drugs into the jail. Daviess County Jailer David Osborne said he requested an independent investigation by state police after he took office in January and found evidence of prescription drug inconsistencies. The investigation was handled by Detective Phil Ballard, who is now retired. Causey has not worked at the jail since December 2002, Osborne said. Causey is accused of visiting doctors between January 1999 and March 2000 and obtaining prescription drugs by withholding or misrepresenting information, according to the indictment. The state police investigation found that Causey's pharmacy records indicate she received multiple pain prescription drugs such as lortab, vicoprofen and hydrocodone. The indictment accuses Causey of altering and forging at least six jail records on Oct. 22. The indictment also accuses her of trying to impair an investigation when she twice tampered with evidence Oct. 22. Wethington said the jail investigation is ongoing. The state police continue to probe jail records. Osborne said Tuesday that he met on several occasions with state police investigators. After taking office he compared the prescription drug usage at the jail with other facilities and found a pattern that raised red flags. State police investigators estimated that thousands of dollars worth of prescription drugs may have inappropriately been paid for by the jail, Osborne said. If that is true, every effort will be made for the thieves compensate the jail, he said. "I'm looking forward to it reaching some kind of conclusion," Osborne said. The grand jury indicted four people in connection with a home invasion and robbery of a Maceo couple. [remainder clipped; not related to article above] - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman