The Concord police officer arrested for illegally obtaining pain medication from senior citizens made his first appearance before a judge Friday.
The officer is facing two counts of first degree burglary, one count of second degree burglary, one count of fraudulently obtaining prescription drugs, and one count of elder abuse.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office says, Matthew Switzer used his status as a police officer to steal prescription drugs from the apartments of several Concord senior citizens.
Friday the judge postponed the arraignment until Tuesday, giving attorneys on both sides more time to work the case.
Switzer's attorney Harry Stern says his client has a drug problem.
"Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States. Unfortunately it appears that Officer Switzer is another casualty of that unfortunate trend," Stern said.
Stern says Switzer is battling an addiction, and had checked into rehab for treatment.
"He had prescriptions, and the particular drugs that were involved were essentially heroine," said Stern. Stern continues on to say his client has numerous issues, including suffering from post-traumatic stress.
"He was fighting a very serious addition problem. It started out with prescriptions. He had an on-duty injury," says Stern.
Officials have not said what that injury was or how it happened.
Concord Police Chief Guy Swanger, who requested the District Attorney investigation, would only say Switzer will be on paid leave, while the department conducts its own internal investigation.
Switzer's bail is now set at $480,000.
