mcall.com on October 27, 2011 reported that a father and son who operated a medical practice in Franconia Township filled so many illegal prescriptions over the past year that it led to prescription drug abuse, overdose deaths and an increase in drug-fueled crimes in Montgomery and Bucks counties, authorities said. Dr. Richard Ruth, 76, of Franconia Township, and Michael Ruth, 43, of Sellersville, were arrested Thursday and charged with a number of drug offenses after a yearlong drug investigation that started when Montgomery and Bucks County police departments noticed an upswing in crime in their areas. Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said police allegedly recovered painkillers prescribed by Dr. Ruth during arrests for crimes in Franconia Township, Hilltown Township and Telford and that his pill bottles were also found at the scene of overdose deaths, authorities said.

The original article can be found at mcall.com.