WESTFIELD – State officials descended upon a Margerie Street apartment Thursday and impounded property after city police, responding to an unrelated matter, discovered what appeared to be an unlicensed dental office in a bedroom of the residence.
The city’s health inspector, Joe Rouse, was informed of the discovery on Friday, Nov. 2, and found that the equipment in the house included dental x-ray equipment so he informed staff at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Radiation Control Program.
Because no licensed dentist was known to be working there, Rouse also reported to the office of public protection of the state’s Division of Professional Licensure.
On Monday, Rouse said that a license is required to possess x-ray equipment and, without a license to practice dentistry, no license to own and operate the x-ray equipment could be granted.
“Those two agencies are taking it very seriously” he said and on Friday reported that, earlier in the week, he had assisted District Health Officer Charles Kaniecki when he applied for, and was granted, a search warrant by Springfield Housing Court.
On Thursday, Rouse and a colleague, Michael Suckau, assisted as a team of officials from the state agencies involved executed the warrant.
Rouse reports that nobody was at home although the family of a man who has been identified as the suspect lives there.
Rouse said that the investigators were able to get inside via a back door and found the apparent dental office in a bedroom.
The x-ray machine was seized for transport to Boston and Rouse said that chemistry needed to develop x-ray film was impounded by his office to ensure that “some unknowing person” doesn’t pour it down a sink where it would be a contaminant to the ground water.
In addition, Rouse said, patient records were seized and the premises were photographed to further the investigation of the suspect who was determined to be unlicensed in the Commonwealth. Rouse said that he understands that the suspect lives in South Carolina.
Rouse said “They’re going to be turning it over to the Attorney General’s office” for further action.
“The place has been dismantled and they’ll (the state agencies) pursue the individual” Rouse said. He said that further involvement by city officials will be limited to support of whatever actions are deemed appropriate by state officials.
A media liaison officer for the Department of Public Health said she could confirm only that “there is an ongoing investigation.”
