MUNCIE, Ind. (Legal Newsline) - At the request of Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, investigators executed a search warrant at the Centers for Pain Relief clinic in Muncie Monday.
They were tasked with collecting evidence for an ongoing investigation into the possible over-prescribing of prescription painkillers.
The investigation, which also includes allegations of forgery and fraud, focuses on Dr. William P. Hedrick, who operates 12 pain relief clinics in northern Indiana.
Following the alleged overdose deaths of eight of Hendrick’s patients, as well as complaints from local pharmacists about the clinic’s alleged over-prescribing habits, Delaware County Circuit Court Judge Marianne Vorhees authorized the warrant, which included the collection of patient files, prescription records, billing information, data files and mobile devices.
Investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration's Indianapolis District Office, the Delaware County Drug Task Force, Muncie Police and the Indiana Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Unit carried out the search.
No arrests have been made and no criminal charges filed yet.
All material collected in the search will be reviewed by the county prosecuter’s office to determine the validity of the accusations against Hedrick and his staff. The outcome of the investigation will determine if any formal charges will be filed, Zoeller said.
As part of the investigation, Zoeller’s office also filed a request with the Indiana Medical Licensing Board Monday to suspend Hendrick’s medical license.