ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — State agents wasted no time raiding Medi M.D. Thursday. At least half-a-dozen gathered what they could and packed cars with evidence.
"We seen boxes coming out and people -- all the area getting boarded off and taped off," said Christoper Ramos, Wow! Hair manager.
Neighboring tenants in Mercado Walk at Palencia Commons tell me the raid caught them by surprise.
"There's a lot of kids that come around here and there's a lot of families. Family oriented. There's a school right there, so it's not just the right place to do anything like that," said Ramos.
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According to the search warrant, agents were looking for medical files, computer software and Medicaid payment records. The owner is listed as Bill McClure, a St. Johns County commissioner for District 3.
Action News tried to reach him by phone, but never got a response. McClure was nowhere to be found after the raids. Despite lights on at his beachside home, no one answered the door and he didn't return our phone calls. The warrant also names nurse practitioner Paula Stowell. She was home when we showed up Thursday but turned out the lights and wouldn't answer the door.
A patient told us by phone Stowell was "prescribing like crazy" and gave samples to people in old pill bottles.
St. Johns County issued the following statement:
“St Johns County had no prior knowledge of this ongoing investigation, and has not been contacted by the Attorney General’s Office related to this matter.’’
"There's so much of this going on that needs to be stopped," Ramos said.
As patients pulled up, they saw this sign, saying Medi M.D. was closed. The thought that something could be wrong is hard for Eric Read to grasp.
"I don't want know what to think. I don't know what to think," said Read, a Medi M.D. customer.
There is a sign on the door saying the office will open Monday. We are still waiting to hear from the Attorney Generals office about that.
WJAX
