Nurse charged with stealing medications at Columbia County care center

LIVINGSTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- New York State Police arrested a Latham man on Wednesday after a narcotics investigation at a care center in Columbia County. Edward Dwyer, 56, is facing numerous charges.

On July 26, Livingston Hills Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Livingston contacted law enforcement about narcotic medications at the facility that had been reported missing. Detectives with State Police's Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Department of Health's Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement determined that Dwyer, a registered nurse working at the property, had allegedly stolen drugs multiple times from the care center instead of administering the medications to designated patients.

Troopers took Dwyer into custody on August 20. He now faces the following charges:

• First-degree falsifying business records
• Ten counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person
• Three counts of petit larceny
• Three counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance
• Three counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud

Dwyer was released after being processed. He's scheduled to appear at the Town of Livingston Court on September 11.