Task force arrests two in 'purple drank' scheme
Two suspects allegedly had false prescription
WADSWORTH – Two men were arrested at a Wadsworth pharmacy March 28 after police say they tried to illegally obtain Promethazine with Codeine.
John Fockler, 44, of Mogadore, and Xavier McClutcheon, 22, of Akron were arrested and each charged with illegal processing of drug documents, a fifth degree felony. They were taken to the Medina County Jail.
A pharmaceutical investigator from the Medina County Drug Task Force received word that a suspicious prescription was called into the pharmacy on Ambassador Drive.
Task force agents called Wadsworth police officers to assist. Officers responded to the area and arrested the two men at approximately 8:30 p.m. The officers detained the men until task force agents could arrive.
Promethazine with Codeine is commonly called “purple drank,” “sizzurp” or “lean” and is often mixed with soft drinks and abused to achieve a euphoric feeling.
Wadsworth Police Chief Randall Reinke said he is familiar with the substance, but added it is something that is not commonly seen in Wadsworth.
“But any time you are making anything like this, the drugs have a potential to be dangerous,” he said. “It’s amazing what people will do. But they don’t really know how the drug is going to affect them.”
Additional criminal charges are expected once the case is reviewed by the Medina County Prosecutor’s Office.
John Fockler, 44, of Mogadore, and Xavier McClutcheon, 22, of Akron were arrested and each charged with illegal processing of drug documents, a fifth degree felony. They were taken to the Medina County Jail.
A pharmaceutical investigator from the Medina County Drug Task Force received word that a suspicious prescription was called into the pharmacy on Ambassador Drive.
Task force agents called Wadsworth police officers to assist. Officers responded to the area and arrested the two men at approximately 8:30 p.m. The officers detained the men until task force agents could arrive.
Promethazine with Codeine is commonly called “purple drank,” “sizzurp” or “lean” and is often mixed with soft drinks and abused to achieve a euphoric feeling.
Wadsworth Police Chief Randall Reinke said he is familiar with the substance, but added it is something that is not commonly seen in Wadsworth.
“But any time you are making anything like this, the drugs have a potential to be dangerous,” he said. “It’s amazing what people will do. But they don’t really know how the drug is going to affect them.”
Additional criminal charges are expected once the case is reviewed by the Medina County Prosecutor’s Office.
