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3 Arrested For Selling Drugs At Tomah VA

Medical Center Faced Scandal Over Narcotic Overprescriptions Earlier This Year

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Tomah VA Medical Center
The Veterans Administration Medical Center in Tomah.  Maureen McCollum/WPR

Three people have been arrested for trying to sell narcotic medications on the Tomah Veterans Affairs Medical Center grounds.

Bernard Jackson works in the Tomah VA’s custodial and housekeeping department. The 61-year-old was arrested for selling Schedule II narcotic medications on the medical center’s property.


Bernard Jackson, Alisa Hamley and Elijah Pates. Tomah Police Department

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Alisa Hamley, 49, of Sparta was arrested for providing Jackson with the illegal substances.

The investigation also led to the arrest of Elijah Pates, 61, who tried to sell medications to a veteran on the VA’s grounds.

The three are now in the Monroe County jail awaiting a court hearing.

Tomah Police Chief Mark Nicholson said they’re still investigating where the medications came from.

The Tomah VA came under fire earlier this year for prescribing high levels of opioid prescriptions and for some management creating a culture of fear.

In this investigation, the Tomah VA police tipped off the city’s police department and the Monroe County Sheriff’s office.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story reported that two people had been arrested based on information from the Tomah VA. The Tomah Police Department has clarified that three people have been arrested. The story has also been updated to included information about the suspects.