by Alan McArthur
Landmark reporter

A Platte County man has been arrested and charged with fraudulently attempting to obtain a controlled substance.

Thomas Edward Morris, 42, of rural Platte County, was arrested on Saturday after allegedly trying to pass a forged prescription at the CVS pharmacy in Platte City. The responding officers were told Morris was in aisle four and as they began looking for him, they saw a man run from the store.

According to the probable cause statement, the officers caught up with Morris a short distance later. He was arrested for outstanding felony warrants from Leavenworth, Kan.

Employees at the pharmacy said Morris had tried to use a prescription written for Adderall signed by a doctor. The employees had contacted the doctor and were told it was forged.

The officers also contacted the doctor, who said she had seen Morris as a patient, but not since November 2008 and any prescriptions beyond then would be a forgery.

Pharmacy records show Morris also passed two previous prescriptions at the store on May 2.

In an interview with police, Morris allegedly admitted to creating the prescriptions on his computer and signing the doctor's name.

The doctor is a psychiatrist in Overland Park, Kan.

According to Al DeValkenaere, Platte City police detective, Morris is suspected of passing as many as 10 more forged prescriptions at the Target Pharmacy along Skyview Avenue near Hwy. 152.

Morris was charged with fraudulently attempting to obtain a controlled substance. His bond was set at $2,500 cash only. Morris was still in the Platte County Detention Center on Monday.