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Nurse arrested in Polk County for stealing medication from jail, driving under the influence

Posted at 5:04 PM, Jan 18, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-18 17:10:13-05

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A nurse from Brandon was arrested for stealing medication from jail and driving while under the influence, according to a press release.

When deputies pulled 39-year-old Griseida Montanez over for speeding they found three marijuana cigarettes, 16 muscle relaxers and 16 anti-seizure pills.

She told deputies she worked at the Polk County Jail and admitted that the pills weren't hers, according to the release. Montanez told deputies she didn't have the authority to remove the pills from the jail.

Montanez said that the pills were scheduled to be destroyed, the release states. Her employer, Corizon Health, said the acceptable practice is for the pills to be taken back to the pharmacy where they are properly disposed of.

"Ms. Montanez knew she was violating the law and continued to do so by stealing medication. Her actions are unacceptable and now instead of working in the jail, she was booked into the jail," Grady Judd said.

She was arrested and charged with two counts of grand theft of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of a drug without a prescription, possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under the influence.

She has been working as a registered nurse at the South County Jail in Frostproof, the release said.