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Former Rockland Health Agent Accused Of Forging Restaurant Inspections

ROCKLAND (CBS/AP) -- Police say a former health agent in Rockland forged inspection reports for nearly a dozen restaurants. According to court documents, former Town Health Agent Janice McCarthy is facing 22 felony charges in connection with the false reports for Rockland restaurants.

janicemccarthy
Janice McCarthy (Photo via Facebook)

McCarthy was appointed as a health agent in 2001, and she oversaw the town health department until her resignation Oct. 25.

Town officials say a health board clerk became suspicious of McCarthy after several citizens submitted public records requests over concerns about restaurant inspections.

"We then went out of each of the establishments, asked the person if they had, in fact, signed that,  and if in fact the establishment had been inspected. And in at least 11 of those cases to date, the answers to both those questions were no," said Rockland Police Chief John Llewellyn.

Read: Board of Health Statement

"There's no indication of kickbacks or anything along those lines at all," Llewellyn continued. "I think was happened was a public requests record was filed for the documents when she hadn't created those over a period of time."

The town says it has appointed four temporary health agents to inspect all restaurants. They have found no serious issues so far.

Rockland Town Offices
Rockland Town Offices (WBZ-TV)

McCarthy did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Her arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 5.

(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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