A Mount Pleasant pharmacy technician has been arrested and charged with theft of a controlled substance following an investigation into missing opioids at a local supermarket pharmacy.
Ashley Thomas Creech was taken into custody and booked at the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center on Wednesday morning. She faces a single felony charge for allegedly stealing Tramadol, a prescription opioid classified as a controlled substance due to its potential for abuse and addiction.
The incident occurred in November 2024 at the Publix supermarket on Park West Boulevard, where Creech was employed as a registered pharmacy technician.
According to a warrant issued by the South Carolina Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Drug Control, video surveillance, pharmacy audits, and other evidence—including a written confession—established probable cause that Creech unlawfully took the drug while on duty.
She was released from custody the same afternoon on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond. Creech is scheduled to appear in court in June to face the charge.
The case highlights the continuing risks of opioid misuse and the responsibilities placed on healthcare professionals to maintain strict accountability for controlled substances.
