A doctor who left marijuana behind at a motel told varying stories about why he had the pot and where it came from, Richland police said Monday.
Officers went to the Days Inn at 615 Jadwin Ave. on Friday after housekeeping employees found a plastic container of marijuana inside a nightstand in one of the rooms, Capt. Mike Cobb said.
Hotel records showed the room had been rented the night before by Alan Schnee, who said he was from Twisp but left a local contact number, Cobb said.
Investigators called the number, which ended up belonging to a medical clinic, and left a message.
When Schnee called back about two minutes later, he was told he needed to return to the motel to pick up personal property he had left behind, Cobb said.
A few minutes later, Schnee entered the Days Inn lobby and was stopped by officers. He told them he was a doctor and had patients waiting, Cobb said.
The osteopathic physician apparently lives in Twisp but works in the Tri-Cities.
During an interview with investigators, he admitted the marijuana was his and that he left it in the nightstand, Cobb said.
He said Schnee told police he bought the pot in Arlington, Wash., and was taking it back to Twisp, then proceeded to tell officers the following stories:
w He was supplying the drugs to a patient but neither he nor the patient had any legal documentation to support the claim.
w He traded medical services in Arlington for the marijuana and was bartering to get home improvement work completed at his Twisp home in exchange for the drugs.
w He received the marijuana in exchange for medical services, but the drugs were only intended for his personal use.
Schnee was arrested and booked into the Benton County jail on suspicion of possessing marijuana with intent to deliver.
Records show Schnee has been licensed as an osteopathic physician by the state Department of Health since 1980. His license is active, but is set to expire Dec. 16. He has had no action taken against him by the Department of Health.
Schnee is a general practice doctor with Physicians Immediate Care, which has three clinics in Richland, records show.
He graduated in 1969 from the Kansas City School of Osteopathic Medicine.
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