by Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Polk County Transfer Station employee this week who is accused of selling prescription medication on the job.

Officers with the sheriff’s office say Joyce Williams sold her prescription Lortabs, otherwise known as Hydrocodone while at the transfer station.

The arrest was made after the sheriff’s office began investigating financial irregularities at the transfer station, according to sheriff’s office reports.

Interim Polk County Manager Marche Pittman contacted the sheriff’s office asking for an investigation after it was discovered there were discrepancies in deposits from the department.

Williams, 41, of 1265 Moore Rd., Tryon, was arrested and charged with one count of sell/deliver a schedule II controlled substance, according to sheriff reports.

The sheriff’s office began conducting interviews of transfer station employees and it was revealed that Williams sold her medications at work, according to the sheriff’s office.

Williams is currently on investigative leave, according to the Rutherford, Polk, McDowell Health District, who employs Williams.

The financial irregularities at the transfer station are still being investigated by the sheriff’s office.

Williams was given a $5,000 unsecured bond and was scheduled for her first appearance in Polk County District Court on Wednesday, Oct. 29.