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INUVIK - A 30-year-old male nurse at the Inuvik Regional Hospital has been charged with breach of trust, theft under $5,000 and three counts of possession of a controlled substance, according to RCMP Cpl. Wesley Heron.

Benjamin Dan Cox, a casual employee at the hospital, was arrested last Wednesday after an investigation that first started when the hospital approached the RCMP two weeks ago.

He was released the same day on a number of conditions and has been suspended from his post at the hospital, while the investigation is ongoing.

In addition, he must report any address or occupation changes to the RCMP, not leave the territory, check in at the Inuvik RCMP detachment on both Monday and Friday and not consume or possess drugs, except when prescribed.

Heron said charges of this nature are rare in the NWT, and centre around the accusation that prescription drugs were stolen from the hospital.

"This is only the second time that I've heard of something like this. These are not a common occurrence in these circumstances," said Heron, media relations officer for the RCMP's G Division.

Cox is scheduled to appear in territorial court in Inuvik on Sept. 13.

Deborah Tynes, hospital CEO, said the police are investigating offences from this past year. She said the hospital will be making changes in how they do charting and account for their controlled substances so that something like this doesn't happen again.

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