A 13-year corrections officer with the Geauga County Jail was arrested Aug. 22 for stealing pills from a jail medical cart.
Christopher R. Elko, of Stoney Brook Drive, Chardon Township, was charged with one count of fourth-degree felony theft. He was taken into custody as he reported to work Tuesday night, after he was captured on a jail surveillance camera of pulling prescription drugs from the medical cart, according to a source familiar with his arrest.
When he was arrested, a large quantity of prescription pills also were found on his person, the source said.
Elko was transported to the Lake County Jail in Painesville following his arrest.
Elko made an initial appearance in Chardon Municipal Court Thursday morning. He waived his preliminary hearing and Judge Terri Stupica set his bond at 10% of $7,500. He is out of jail after posting bond.
Chardon attorney Todd Peterson is representing Elko, whose case was bound over to Geauga County Common Pleas for future proceedings.
Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz decline to comment on the case, but said his office has 60 days to present the matter to the grand jury and file any indictment.