Drug Rehab Counselor Suspended After Heroin Arrest

On Thursday we brought you the story of a just off Soquel Drive near Dominican Hospital for possession of heroin, packing materials and other items indicating the sale of the drug.

Kristin Dempsey, 33, had been under investigation in the home for some time, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.

Now, Patch has learned that Dempsey has worked as a part-time counselor for about a year at the Santa Cruz office of ALTO Counseling Center, which is part of the Santa Cruz Community Counseling Center, according to Will O'Sullivan, the center's director of adult substance abuse treatment services.

"As we learned of this, we suspended her as the court process proceeds," O'Sullivan said.

"Of course we're looking into the circumstances and will take appropriate personnel action," he said, adding that the details of the case that have been released by the sheriff's office were "very concerning."

—Bay City News Contributed to this Report