At a news conference Thursday, police delivered news that shocked the medical community in Bakersfield. Dr. Jeffrey Mark Freesemann, the chief of staff of San Joaquin Community Hospital, former president of the Kern County Medical Society, and a founding partner of Highgrove Medical, was busted in connection with a suspected drug ring.
Police say eleven people have been arrested, including Dr. Freesemann's wife Shelly.
Authorities also say the drug ring is tied to the night club scene and the Freesemann couple bought drugs from a local night club promoter. Police also say they seized more than $29,000 cash and $24,000 in drugs.
"They were in a possession of drugs that would indicate they were not for personal use," Bakersfield Police Lieutenant Scott McDonald said.
Police tell 17 News that last month Dr. Freesemann and his wife Shelly were stopped on their way to Nevada carrying meth, cocaine, and ecstasy.
Investigators say they then discovered the couple bought drugs from a local night club promoter, 25-year-old Steven Galvan, whois suspected of buying and selling drugs to many of the people arrested in this bust.
Police say they searched the Freesemann couple's home and found more drugs.
Dr. Freesemann practices internal medicine and has 3,000 patients at Highgrove Medical. The physician has been placed on paid leave at Highgrove and was removed from his chief of staff position at San Joaquin Community Hospital.
"He was an active physician here and I had a lot of business association with him and there was never any inkling of anything like this," Deborah Hankins of San Joaquin Community Hospital said.
The Freesemanns lives in the Haggin Oaks community and neighbors say the couple has two young children. Dr. Freesemann's neighbors and co-workers say they never saw this coming.
"I think everyone was in the same boat. We were all shocked and very saddenned," Dr. Hemmal Kothary of Highgrove Medical said.
Police say this investigation is on-going and they know at least 40 people could be connected to the case.
Police also tell 17 News the Freesemann couple could face about five years in prison.
