Former nurse charged with stealing medication

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- A former nurse was arrested and charged with stealing medication from her patients at a West Hartford assisted living community.

West Hartford police say 30-year-old Lisa Czarnecke, a former licensed practical nurse at the Hoffman SummerWood Community, was arrested on Saturday.

Police say Czarnecke stole narcotics tablets from one patient and replaced them with diabetes medication she took from another.

She has been charged with illegal possession of narcotics, second degree reckless endangerment and sixth degree larceny.

She was released after posting a $20,000 bond and is due in Hartford Superior Court on August 30.

Dan Tapper, a spokesman for Hebrew Health Car, which owns Hoffman SummerWood Community released the following statement:
"At Hebrew Health Care we take very seriously the safety and well-being of the people entrusted to our care. We have comprehensive policies and procedures in place to detect any issues that may arise as that care is being administered. Thanks to those policies we were able to identify and address this issue, and the person in question is no longer employed by Hebrew Health Care."