"I'm at a loss as to why such extraordinary steps were necessary," said local attorney Joel Smith.

Grider Drug stores on Main Street and Dowell Road in Russell Springs have not been closed by the Drug Enforcement Agency, according to the agency's spokesman Special Agent Rich Isaacson.

Isaacson continued, saying that the pharmacies would not be allowed to sell narcotics or other controlled substances schedule 2 or higher.

"They're not allowed to handle those controlled substances but they can still dispense antibiotics," Isaacson said.

He said the agency has issued an immediate suspension of the company's permission to handle drugs such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, or xanax.

"In the DEA's opinion they've been distributing these controlled substances in a manner that is not in the interest of public safety," Isaacson said.

When pressed he said that according to their agency's information, "scores of prescriptions have been refilled within a short period of time."

"When an individual gets a prescription filled for hydrocodone 50 times in a three month period…" Isaacson trailed off.

He said they have been reviewing the dispensing records for the two Grider Drug locations.

"I've looked at the order but I've not seen any of the supporting documents," said Joel Smith, who had visited the Grider drug stores while the federal agents were there Tuesday afternoon. "I'm just disgusted."

He said he was at a loss to understand how it was illegal or improper to fill properly written legal prescriptions.

"They are saying the Griders should have known not to fill these prescriptions," Smith said.

Isaacson said the family owned pharmacy will have 60 days to appeal the suspension of their license to dispense the Schedule 2 through 5 drugs. He said an administrative judge would hear the case.

"This is a civil matter not a criminal matter," Isaacson said.