THOMASVILLE — A man arrested on drug and theft charges was joined by his father when the latter protested his son’s arrest.

Thomas County/Thomasville Narcotics/Vice Division agents responded to Archbold Memorial Hospital on Thursday, May 25, in connection with a man making multiple trips to the hospital using variations of his name and different Social Security numbers and dates of birth.

Timothy Nathan Johnson, 28, 14866 U.S. 19 South, Room 106, told agents he was in the process of changing his name and date of birth, said Louis Schofill, Thomas County/Thomasville Narcotics/Vice Division commander.

An investigation showed Johnson had been obtaining prescriptions from physicians in Florida and Georgia, including Thomasville.

The suspect is charged in Thomas County with third-degree forgery, three counts of second-degree forgery and three counts of obtaining prescriptions by fraud. Johnson bonded out of the Thomas County Jail the same day.

On Tuesday, the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office received a report about a $5,300 check stolen from a mailbox on Gordon Avenue.

“It was determined the check had been altered and deposited into Timothy Johnson’s account,” Schofill said.

Johnson was arrested again and charged with theft.

When officers attempted to arrest Johnson, his father fought and argued with deputies, the commander said.

The father, David Johnson, 59, of the same U.S. 19 South address, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.

It is believed more checks were stolen and altered and that more prescriptions were obtained by fraud, Schofill said.

Anyone with information about the offenses is asked to contact the sheriff’s office Criminal Investigations Division at 225-3315.