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Tampa Police: Man Who Impersonated Doctor Is At It Again

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By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 2, 2008

Updated: 06/02/2008 02:08 pm

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• Anthony James David Arrested Again

Anthony James David

TAMPA - A man awaiting trial on charges he impersonated a doctor by dispensing medication and hanging around Tampa General Hospital in scrubs is in trouble again, police say.

Anthony James David, 31, of Spring Hill, is being held at Hernando County Jail today on warrants from Tampa police. He is charged with felony unlicensed practice of medicine and delivery of a controlled substance.

Hernando deputies arrested him at a Lowe's store in Spring Hill about 2 p.m. Saturday.

Tampa Police Department Capt. Hugh Miller said David dissuaded his girlfriend from taking two antibiotics prescribed for her by a physician. When her condition worsened, he provided her a prescription medication, Miller said. David also used the woman's credit card without her knowledge to make payments to a bail bondsman he used because of previous charges, Miller said.

David met the woman online in January and told her he was an orthopedic surgeon's assistant. In fact, Miller said, "David has no medical certification in the state of Florida or anywhere else we can find." Miller asked that anyone who has had contact with David in a medical capacity to call Tampa police at (813) 276-3606.

David, who calls himself "Dr. David," is scheduled for trial July 21 on several charges including three felony counts of unlicensed practice of medicine, two felony counts of grand theft and one felony count of intending to sell drugs without a prescription.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges in November, court records show. He was released in November on $104,000 surety bond, jail records show.

When officers arrested David in October, he was wearing Tampa General Hospital scrubs, police said.

Detectives at the time said David had no medical background but had distributed samples of prescription medication at a Tampa orthopedic office and had visited the doctor's lounge and cafeteria at Tampa General Hospital.

"He's known to go around in scrubs and pass himself off as a doctor and befriend people in doctor's offices and give them medical advice," police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said at the time.

Stay with TBO.com for developments.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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