Officials last week suspended the license of a Garrison physician on an emergency order of suspension. The doctor could lose his license to practice medicine in Kentucky.

Officials with the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure said Dr. Fortune James Williams can appeal the suspension and is scheduled for a hearing with the board in April 2002.

The suspension comes about a month after officials seized records of 35 patients at First Care Family Practice, a pain management clinic, at Garrison. The suspension was ordered after the board determined that Williams represented "an immediate threat" to the citizens of Kentucky, a board spokesman said.

In presenting the order to Williams last Tuesday afternoon, officials told Williams that the decision to suspend his license was made by a board of his peers and added that he could not treat any patients until the matter is adjudicated.

Officials allege that over an eight month period, Williams had prescribed nearly three million units of controlled substances and saw up to 99 patients a day. Officials added that Williams allegedly gave false information on his medical license application in Kentucky.

A board spokesman said the board determined Williams had been arrested in California in 1987 on a charge of possessing a narcotic controlled substance. The spokesman said Williams answered "no" to a question about any previous felony or misdemeanor charges or convictions on his application for a Kentucky medical license in 1996.

A board spokesman said many of the clinic's patients were in their 20s and 30s and traveled long distances to visit the clinic.

Sheriff Bill Lewis said license tags on cars at the clinic were generally from Scioto County, Ohio. Others were from West Virginia and eastern counties in Kentucky.

Williams had responded to the board after they seized patient records in September.

In the letter, Williams wrote that his overall goals are to provide the best possible care for his patients while staying within the law, the Guidelines of the Federation of Medical Boards, Kentucky Medical Board and DEA.

Williams also responded to the complaint of the high volume stating that he didn't realize there was a limit to how many patients the Kentucky Board would allow him to see. Williams also explained in the response about his policy on creating and maintaining doctor-patient relationships, which include face to face interviews with patients.

Vanceburg Police Chief Joe Billman said Steven W. Wallace, 46, of Concord, was arrested and was initially charged with possession burglary tools, by Sgt. Joe Paul Gilbert, after allegedly attempting to break into an auto parked outside the fitness center.

The owner of the vehicle reportedly saw Wallace near her car in the parking lot as she was leaving the fitness center and notified police.

Gilbert responded to the call and pursued Wallace's auto west on the AA Highway, pulling the vehicle over about five miles west of Vanceburg.

Billman said officials search the home of Wallace's girlfriend in Tollesboro and seized several new and nearly new items with a total value of more than $20,000.

Billman said the items had allegedly been purchased with credit cards taken in the auto break-ins.

Walker said the first accident involved a single vehicle at about 9"00 p.m. Thursday on Ky. Rt. 8 at Quincy curve.

Walker said a 1984 Toyota Corolla, operated by Billie Joe Applegate, 25, of Wellston, Ohio, was traveling west on the roadway when Applegate apparently lost control of the vehicle and went off the right side of the roadway.

Walker said a 2001 Ford pickup, operated by Tony Tully, 28, of Chalk Ridge, was traveling on the roadway while a 1995 Ford passenger van, operated by Brandy Dummitt, 21, of Garrison, was traveling in the opposite direction.

Walker said mirrors on each vehicle collided, resulting in minor damage to the pickup and a broken window on the van.