According to warrants filed with the court, Wheeler doctor shopped to get prescriptions for medications containing Codeine and Hydrocodone - a powerful and addictive pain killer.
Click here to read the warrants (.pdf)
One warrant says Wheeler went to one doctor and got a prescription, but didn't tell the doctor he would be seeing his primary care physician in seven days.
A second warrant says Wheeler filled a prescription at a CVS pharmacy, and then called his doctor to say the pharmacy was out of the medication and asked for a prescription to be called into a second pharmacy.
Wheeler is a first sergeant at the training academy on Garner Road in Raleigh. He's been with the department since 1998.
A Highway Patrol spokesman says Wheeler was already on leave pending an internal investigation of the same allegations. Once the Patrol completes its internal investigation, it will be up to the agency's commander to decide Wheeler's job status. The Patrol spokesman says the filing of criminal charges by the State Bureau of Investigation could add aggravating factors to the Patrol's own investigation.
Wheeler was booked at the Wake County Magistrate's Office and released on a written promise to appear in court Wednesday morning.
