Port St. Lucie police arrest scrub-wearing Palm Beach County nurse, man in oxycodone probe
July 29th, 2009 by TCPalm.comPORT ST. LUCIE — An investigation stemming from an earlier racketeering case landed a pair from Palm Beach County, including a scrubs-wearing health department nurse and a Loxahatchee man, behind bars last week, according to police and recently released arrest affidavits.
The Friday apprehension of Robert Allen Cline, 46, and Nicole M. Ruby, identified as a licensed practical nurse, stemmed from a probe that brought the arrests last month on racketeering charges of Kayla “Lady K” Resseque, 21; Thomas “Red” Cravatt, 44; and 53-year-old Donald J. Mack, also known as “Macaroni,” “Mack,” “Peewee” and “Roni.”
The Port St. Lucie police’s Special Investigations Unit on Friday arranged a deal with Cline, of Loxahatchee, to buy 50 oxycodone pills for $650. Investigators met Cline at a plaza in the 200 block of Southwest Port St. Lucie Boulevard.
Ruby, a 37-year-old Palm Springs resident, was in the passenger seat of Cline’s vehicle. Both were taken into custody after Ruby allegedly handed over a bottle of 50 oxycodone pills.
Ruby wore scrubs, purple Crocs and medical identification at the time, police said. An arrest affidavit says she works for Children’s Health Services, which is an agency within the state Department of Health.
Ruby told investigators Cline asked her to go to Port St. Lucie to sell oxycodone to his friend and that she agreed. Police found “various prescription medications” addressed to Ruby, including two bottles of oxycodone.
“Marked on some of the bottles were ledger-type notations indicating possible other transactions independent of this incident,” an arrest affidavit states.
Police are investigating whether Ruby used her LPN status to obtain any drugs illegally.
The initial target of the police investigation, Cline said he “brokered” the deal and that he drove Ruby to the transaction to “help her out,” affidavits state.
The investigation of Cline stemmed from the probe of Resseque, Cravatt and Mack, each arrested last month after police executed a search warrant at a home in the 300 block of Southwest De Gouvea Terrace. A fourth person, 53-year-old Charles Woodson, was arrested on drug charges after police found eight bags of marijuana under his mattress. Woodson wasn’t arrested on a racketeering charge.
Meanwhile, Ruby and Cline each face a felony trafficking oxycodone charge, while Cline also was arrested on a felony illegal use of a two-way communication device charge.
Cline, listed as self-employed, was also arrested on earlier felony warrants, including sale of cocaine, possession of cocaine, sale of oxycodone, possession of oxycodone and illegal use of two-way communication device.
By Will Greenlee, TCPalm.com
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July 29th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Beef up the “war” on drugs. Start with the pharmaceutical companies as well as clean out the FDA. Drugs approved by the FDA and are manufactured in huge quantities are killing the most people in this country today. Force them underground as with methaqualone was back in the 1970’s. There is not much of a problem with quaaludes now, is there?
July 29th, 2009 at 10:17 am
lawdawg, your comments are ignorant. Do you really think doing away with pharma companies would help more people than they hurt?
July 29th, 2009 at 10:28 am
the war on drugs has failed. pharmaceutical companies are the true drug dealers. people are getting high on scripted meds than hard drugs, shot, painkillers are derived from opium. so it the same as heroin.
August 11th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Whats scary is how these supposed “healthcare” workers are becoming the new drug dealers. They have the appearance of professionals yet they are just as low as a street corner thug drug dealer. Be careful folks, looks are indeed deceiving.