A Concord police officer will be arraigned this afternoon for allegedly stealing prescription drugs from seniors, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office said today.
Prosecutors charged Concord police K-9 Officer Matthew Switzer on Thursday with two counts of first-degree burglary, one count of second-degree burglary, one count of fraudulently obtaining prescription drugs and one count of elder abuse, according to the district attorney's office.
His arraignment in Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Switzer, a Clayton resident, turned himself in this morning and is being held in the county jail in Martinez in lieu of $240,000 bail, according to Deputy District Attorney Barry Grove.
Prosecutors said the officer allegedly used his status as a police officer to enter the homes of several residents in an unnamed senior apartment complex in downtown Concord. Once inside, he pocketed undisclosed amounts of Norco, a powerful prescription pain drug, according to Grove.
The charges follow an extensive investigation at the request of Concord police Chief Guy Swanger, who said a resident informed him in February that Switzer was obtaining prescription drugs illegally.
Swanger said he placed Switzer on administrative leave the same day and contacted the district attorney's office.
The chief declined to comment on the allegations specifically but said the charges "show that police officers, like members of the community, have to be held accountable."
The Police Department is conducting its own investigation into the charges, he said.
Copyright © 2014 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
