Shore Nurse Accused of Stealing & Dealing Drugs

A registered nurse from Manahawkin employed at Centrastate Health in Freehold is charged with dealing prescription drugs that he's accused of taking from the hospital.

Seth J. Kaplan, 42, was arrested Monday night after a search of his 2010 Cadillac STS and his home on Neptune Drive.

According to information from the office of Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato, officers involved in the road stop at Neptune Drive and Nautilus Boulevard around 9:15 PM found syringes filled with hydromorphine and morphine sulfate, and a bottle containing prescription pills.

A subsequent search of his home by members of the county Special Operations Group and Stafford Police revealed hydromorphine HCI injections, doses of morphine sulfate, tablets of oxycodone, oxycontin, and codeine, and injections of demoral and diazepam.

Authorities say they seized 32 syringes altogether. They determined that Kaplan pocketed the drugs at Centrastate and possible a second hospital that they did not identify. Centrastate staffers and New Jersey Health officials are cooperating in the ongoing probe.

"The strength and amounts of narcotics Kaplan was selling could easily cause death in the hands of those not trained to administer it correctly," said Coronato in a prepared release.  "I want this to serve as a warning to all health care professionals that we are actively on the hunt for those who would betray their professional positions to profit from the illegal sale of prescription narcotics."

Kaplan was placed in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River with bail set at $30,000 and no option for release on payment of 10 percent.

He's charged with six counts of possession of controlled dangerous substances, four of which involve Schedule II drugs, and one of which includes intent to distribute morphine sulfate.