On Thursday, February 11, 2010, a Lake City doctor was arrested on narcotics charges. Deputies arrested Dr. Joseph M. Hernandez, M.D., P.A. at 5:00 p.m. today after an arrest warrant had been issued. Dr. Hernandez was arrested at his medical practice, 826 S.W. Main Blvd, Lake City, FL (Medical Clinic of North Florida) without incident.
The Columbia County Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force conducted a lengthy undercover investigation stemming from complaints that Dr. Hernandez was issuing prescriptions for pain medication that were not medically necessary. This extensive investigation culminated in the arrest of Dr. Hernandez today.
Joseph M. Hernandez was booked into the Columbia County Detention Facility and is charged with one count of trafficking in Oxycodone. There is no bond. Additional charges against Dr. Hernandez are likely.
The Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force is comprised of Detectives from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Lake City Police Dept, the Florida Dept of Law Enforcement and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Several agencies were involved in this lengthy investigation, namely, CCSO, LCPD, FDLE, DEA and the Florida Department of Health.
