A former Peachtree

City police sergeant has been arrested for using fake prescriptions at

several local pharmacies to obtain pain medication.

Christopher

Neal Holt, 32, faces eight felony counts of forgery in the first degree.

According to warrants issued for his arrest, Holt presented forged prescriptions

at several different pharmacies for medication such as Lorcet, Lortab,

Percocet and Calan.

According to

documents obtained from the department, Holt was found to have been addicted

to pharmaceutical drugs after an internal affairs investigation was conducted.

Holt, who had

been with the department for approximately seven years, was terminated

July 19. The action followed the internal affairs investigation that revealed

he used the medication in a manner that affected his duty performance,

according to documents.

Police Chief

James Murray said the department had "worked" with Holt since

he began suffering from a debilitating illness three or four years ago.

Murray could not go into the details of the illness but explained that

the department became aware of problems Holt was having that affected

his job performance.

"We had

been monitoring his progress because of his medications," Murray

said, adding that the department consulted with his physician "to

make sure his illness wasn't affecting his ability to do his job."

The Fayette

County Sheriff's Department and state narcotics officers were contacted

to investigate the matter and make sure the criminal investigation was

handled properly, Murray said.

"We asked

the Fayette County Sheriff's Department to investigate anything that needed

to be investigated," Murray said, noting that the state narcotics

agency was also asked to investigate.

Murray noted

that Peachtree City police officers arrested Holt on DUI charges Sept.

1, which was difficult for them since they were aware of Holt's struggles.

"He was

a very good officer, well respected by his peers and a hard worker,"

Murray said, adding that until recent events Holt "was a dedicated

employee and well-liked by everybody."

The Peace Officer

Standards and Training Council has been asked to revoke Holt's certification

as a police officer.

Holt's firing

came just over a week after he was placed on administrative suspension

for violating department rules and failure to obey laws and orders, according

to city documents. The firing coincided with the beginning of the internal

affairs investigation.

Murray said

Holt was not selling or distributing the medication to others.

"The sad

thing in this is that the only victim is himself," Murray said.