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Police: Man used false info to obtain narcotics
By Andrew Amelinckx
A Highland man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly giving false information to Columbia Memorial Hospital in order to get medical treatments and drugs over the course of 10 months.
According to the Hudson Police Department, Douglas L. Sertl, 48, illegally obtained more than $15,000 in medical services along with morphine and other controlled substances.
Police believe Sertl was after the drugs, as opposed to the medical services, the nature of which was not released.
“It appears to be that he was trying to obtain the controlled substances,” said HPD Lt. Richard Paolino.
Sertl allegedly went to the hospital’s Emergency Room five separate times and, according to Paolino, gave five separate false identities.
Authorities believe he drove up from Highland on each occasion.
The last time, on March 26 of this year, someone in the ER allegedly recognized Sertl and called the police.
Paolino said that it was a good catch by the hospital.
“They get hundreds of people in [the ER] in a week,” he said.
HPD Officer David Miller and Sgt. Randy Clarke worked on the case.
Sertl was picked up on a warrant after a traffic stop by the New York State Police in Highland and was later handed over to HPD in Kingston.
He has been charged with two counts of third-degree grand larceny, Class D felonies; eight counts of first-degree falsifying business records, Class E felonies; three counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, Class E felonies; five counts of second-degree criminal impersonation, Class A misdemeanors; and four counts of use of deceit to obtain a controlled substance, violations of the state public health law.
Sertl was arraigned in Hudson City Court by Judge Richard Koweek and remanded to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash or $20,000 bail bond.
Sertl is also on federal probation, according to authorities.
Paolino said he’d never seen a case quite like this one.
“This is the kind of thing you see on TV,” he said.
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518-828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com.
According to the Hudson Police Department, Douglas L. Sertl, 48, illegally obtained more than $15,000 in medical services along with morphine and other controlled substances.
Police believe Sertl was after the drugs, as opposed to the medical services, the nature of which was not released.
“It appears to be that he was trying to obtain the controlled substances,” said HPD Lt. Richard Paolino.
Sertl allegedly went to the hospital’s Emergency Room five separate times and, according to Paolino, gave five separate false identities.
Authorities believe he drove up from Highland on each occasion.
The last time, on March 26 of this year, someone in the ER allegedly recognized Sertl and called the police.
Paolino said that it was a good catch by the hospital.
“They get hundreds of people in [the ER] in a week,” he said.
HPD Officer David Miller and Sgt. Randy Clarke worked on the case.
Sertl was picked up on a warrant after a traffic stop by the New York State Police in Highland and was later handed over to HPD in Kingston.
He has been charged with two counts of third-degree grand larceny, Class D felonies; eight counts of first-degree falsifying business records, Class E felonies; three counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, Class E felonies; five counts of second-degree criminal impersonation, Class A misdemeanors; and four counts of use of deceit to obtain a controlled substance, violations of the state public health law.
Sertl was arraigned in Hudson City Court by Judge Richard Koweek and remanded to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash or $20,000 bail bond.
Sertl is also on federal probation, according to authorities.
Paolino said he’d never seen a case quite like this one.
“This is the kind of thing you see on TV,” he said.
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518-828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com.
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