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Police: ‘Trick shoulder’ accused’s way to easy prescription drugs

By John Thompson
Elizabethton Bureau Chief
jthompson@johnsoncitypress.com

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ELIZABETHTON — A Virginia man faces several charges after medical personnel accused him of using a trick shoulder in an effort to obtain drugs at emergency rooms throughout the region.

Joshua Andrew Mays, 25, 19263 Wyndale Road, Abingdon, Va., was arrested over the weekend on charges of obtaining controlled substances by fraud, disorderly conduct and retaliation for past action. He is scheduled to answer the charges in Carter County Sessions Court on Nov. 23.

The incident began when Mays went to the Emergency Room at Sycamore Shoals Hospital Friday evening complaining of a dislocated shoulder. He allegedly told the emergency room staff that he had been working on the roof at the nearby garage of Northeast Tennessee Transit when he was injured.

Dr. Linda Gail Monteith told officers she checked Mays’ patient data with Mountain States Health Alliance and found 17 occasions when he had gone to various medical facilities throughout the Tri-Cities region in less than a year seeking help. She found he had given nine different addresses and had prescriptions filled at seven different pharmacies. She found he had also been forced to leave other medical facilities because of “drug-seeking behavior.”

Monteith said she confronted him about her suspicions and she said he became belligerent. She said he attempted to leave but she told him he was under the influence of medications the staff had given him.

Officer Shane Darling of the Elizabethton Police Department responded to the emergency room and talked Mays into allowing Monteith to reset his shoulder.

Darling said the medical staff suspected Mays has the ability to dislocate his shoulder at will and that he dislocates it in order to obtain drugs. Darling said the theory was demonstrated when Mays would rotate his shoulder while he was sedated. Darling said Mays dislocated his shoulder three times and Monteith reset it three times.

When Mays was told he was being released from the hospital, Darling said Mays removed the intravenous port from the back of his hand by using his teeth.

A records check indicated there was an outstanding warrant on Mays out of Hawkins County. After Darling told Mays about the warrant, he said Mays became angry and began cursing and causing a disturbance in the emergency room.

Mays was arrested and transported to the Carter County Jail. During the ride to the jail, Darling said Mays removed the brace from his injured arm and began punching the plastic shield in the back of the cruiser.

After reaching the jail, Darling said Mays complained his hand was injured where the IV had been removed. Darling reminded Mays he had removed it himself, using his teeth. He said Mays also told Darling “It’s a good thing you are so big,” Darling said he considered that a threat.