Bel Air Sleep Doctor Arrested In Narcotics Probe

BEL AIR, MD — Authorities say two people have been arrested in connection with a narcotics probe in Harford County. One of them is a doctor who practices medicine in Bel Air and the other is reportedly the girlfriend he lives with in Havre de Grace.

Police said that charges against Dr. Thomas Francis Burke, 55, and Lindsay Nichole Smith, 33, both of the 200 block of Pointe Way in Havre de Grace, came after a 10-month investigation.

The DEA, Harford County Sheriff's Office and Harford County Joint Narcotics Task Force executed search warrants at Burke's residence and his medical practice in Bel Air, according to the Havre de Grace Police Department. He was a doctor at Quality Diagnostics Sleep Center on North Avenue.

"The ongoing investigation determined that controlled prescription medications were being issued to unauthorized persons, and redistributed illegally within the community," the Havre de Grace Police Department said in a statement issued on Thursday, Feb. 15.

Police said that criminal and administrative charges are pending against Burke for violating laws that govern medical standards.

He was indicted Jan. 31 on an obstruction of justice charge stemming from activity Aug. 8 to Aug. 10, 2017, and was ordered held without bail until Feb. 13, when he was released on $50,000 bond, court records show.

Havre de Grace Police Corporal Daniel Petz said that the doctor was "harboring someone who was doing multiple illegal things, selling and possessing drugs," according to The Aegis, which reported there may be additional charges coming against Burke.

Court records show that Smith has been charged with 25 drug-related offenses: eight counts of possession of drugs other than marijuana, eight counts of drug distribution, eight counts of possession with intent to distribute drugs, and illegal possession of prescription drugs with intent to distribute.

The drugs in question were benzodiazepines (tranquilizers) Ativan and Valium; pain reliever Tramadol; blood pressure medicine Clonidine; and erectile dysfunction medicine Viagra, The Aegis reported.

Court records show the drug offenses stemmed from alleged activity in summer 2017 (on Aug. 1, Aug. 8, Aug. 10 and Aug. 12) and Jan. 19, 2018.

Smith was indicted Jan. 31 and was held without bail until Feb. 13, when court records show she was released after posting $30,000 bond.

Both Burke and Smith are slated to appear for a scheduling conference March 5 in Harford County Circuit Court.

In the meantime, police told ABC 2 News that Smith is required to seek treatment for drug addiction; and Quality Diagnostics Sleep Center on North Avenue, where Burke worked, is searching for a replacement. One of the owners of the business noted the office does not write prescriptions and said that nobody was aware of any alleged impropriety related to the doctor.

Photos of Dr. Thomas Francis Burke and Lindsay Nichole Smith courtesy of the Havre de Grace Police Department.