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whats up docNASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Health has terminated its contract with Dr. Bruce Levy as chief medical examiner following his arrest on felony drug charges Tuesday afternoon in Mississippi.
Dr. Levy has also been suspended for 90 days as chief medical examiner for the city of Nashville.
The 49-year-old was arrested at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday at the Staybridge Suites extended stay hotel in Ridgeland, Madison County, after agents with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics delivered a package addressed to him with less than an ounce of marijuana inside.
The Bureau of Narcotics, a division of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, runs periodic checks of packages sent via FedEx and UPS, among others.
During a sweep Tuesday, a trained drug dog flagged the package addressed to Dr. Levy.
During a subsequent search of Levy's hotel room, agents found similar packages with similar amounts of marijuana.
Levy was booked into the Madison County jail and charged with felony possession of marijuana. He was released early Wednesday afternoon on $25,000 bond.
At the time of his arrest, Levy was in Mississippi to testify in a trial. He is one of six doctors that the state contracts to do forensic pathology work.
The Mississippi State Medical Examiner's office does not have a chief medical examiner and contracts with Global Forensics, which Dr. Levy is the CEO of.
Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephen Simpson terminated the contract upon learning of Dr. Levy's arrest.
"We believe this to be an isolated case within Global Forensics. No medical examination services at the state medical examiner's office will be interrupted by the arrest, but let this service as notice that no one is exempt from our commitment to fight illegal drugs where ever found. We will immediately begin our search to replace Global Forensics," Simpson said in a release.
In a statement released midday Wednesday, Susan Cooper, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health, said the department was "taking immediate action to terminate its contract with Dr. Levy."
Cooper said she would name an interim state medical examiner as soon as possible.
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean informed Dr. Levy of his 90-day suspension with the city in a letter sent Wednesday.
"As a result of this allegation of serious criminal conduct, I am suspending you from your duties as the county medical examiner for 90 days," the letter read.
Amy McMasters has been named by Metro as interim medical examiner.
In addition to being the CEO of Global Forensics, Dr. Levy is the CEO of Forensic Medical Management Services, a full service forensic pathology group that provides medical examiner services, including death investigation, forensic autopsies, expert forensic testimony, and forensic management services, according to its Web site.
He was appointed chief medical examiner for the city of Nashville in July 1997 and chief medical examiner for the state the following March. Read his complete bio.
Levy has hired well known Nashville attorney David Raybin to represent him.
from: http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=12155793
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