Federal search warrants were served against a Lawrence County physician Monday afternoon, stemming from a cooperative investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Wednesday, May 23, 2001

Federal search warrants were served against a Lawrence County physician Monday afternoon, stemming from a cooperative investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Search warrants were served against the home, located at 111 Cove St., in South Point and medical office of Dr. Randall McCollister, a physician practicing at 407 S. Third St. in Ironton.

Ironton’s acting police chief Chris Bowman said the investigation began earlier this year with officers looking into "improper" activities in which McCollister was allegedly involved.

Bowman said the investigation was a cumulative effort between two task forces, the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force and the Lawrence County Drug Task Force.

Police officers from Ironton, Jackson, Portsmouth, Coal Grove and South Point; as well as, agents from the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, State Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ohio Medical Board, Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Inspector General of Health and Human Services were involved in the task forces.

Calls to McCollister’s office Tuesday were unanswered.

Bowman said he could not comment on the nature of the offenses allegedly committed by the physician.

According to authorities, no charges have been filed at this time.