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Thomas "Tim" McFarland, who owns a Main Line dental practice, was charged last night with unlawful discharge of a pollutant and unlawful disposal of medical waste, authorities said in a press conference this afternoon. Officials did not offer a motive on why McFarland dumped the waste or where he was being held. The Avalon case is not related to other recent beach closings.
McFarland, who owns a summer house in Avalon, allegedly took his Boston Whaler into the Townsend Inlet on Aug. 22 and dumped a bag of dental debris into the waters, said Attorney General Anne Milgram.
More than 250 needles, 180 cotton swabs, and scores of blue and white plastic capsules washed ashore along a mile-long section of shoreline just south of the inlet. The discoveries put a chill into the town's end-of-the-season celebrations.
Authorities said the dental debris in Avalon is not related to other medical waste that has appeared on beaches in seven other South Jersey shore towns.
A spokesman for Milgram said the syringes discovered in Strathmere, Ocean City, and other shore points, may have been found because of the heightened awareness created by the Avalon case.
Milgram did not offer indicate a motive for the dumping of the debris other than to say it was done on purpose.
"It's clear to us that the people of New Jersey and all those who enjoy the shore can be assured it was an intentional act and not a testament to unhealthy water, said Milgram.
If convicted of the charges, McFarland faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a total of $125,000 in fines.
A wrapper for a dental drill bit was picked up on the sands of the upscale beach resort during an Aug. 23 beach sweep.
The wrapper was traced to a dental supply company in Georgia which told investigators the drill bit wasn't a commonly purchased item, according to court documents filed Tuesday in Montgomery County.
The wrapper was printed with a manufacturing date. The company, Microcopy Dental, had a list of 13 dentists in a half-dozen states who had bought the bits.
Among them was Thomas "Tim" McFarland DMD of Wynnewood.
Investigators combed the sands and medical supply records for more than a week before McFarland surrendered to Avalon police.
On Tuesday, McFarland admitted that he dumped "a quantity" of medical waste from his Wynnewood dental practice into Townsends Inlet near his Avalon summer home, according to court papers.
Townsends Inlet is a narrow waterway that separates Avalon from Sea Isle City.
McFarland's admission has brought to an end to more than two weeks of speculation, fear and spoiled vacations that began when hypodermic syringes began to wash up along the resort town's famed beaches.
During the investigation, no information was released that the debris might be tied to a dental practice.
More than 250 needles, 180 cotton swabs, and scores of blue and white plastic capsules have washed ashore along a mile-long section of shoreline just south of the Townsend Inlet.
Police yesterday seized dozens of short dental needles, amalgam capsules, cotton swabs and ampules at McFarland's Wynnewood dental practice. Detectives also found drill bits - FG37 inverted cone carbides made by Microcopy - that were consistent with the trash that washed up on the Avalon beach.
Staff writer Jacqueline L. Urgo contributed to this report.
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