Eckerd manager charged with grand theft

Donald P. Barkow is accused of taking nearly $73,000 from his Palm Harbor store and changing the store's accounts to hide the losses.

By RICHARD DANIELSON, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published November 9, 2002

PALM HARBOR -- An Eckerd store manager has been charged with stealing nearly $73,000 over a year's time and fixing the store's books to hide the loss.

Donald P. Barkow said Friday that he was innocent and that the company should look for the problem somewhere else.

Pinellas County sheriff's detectives arrested Barkow, 40, of Dunedin Thursday on a charge of grand theft.

Barkow was accused of regularly taking cash from the Eckerd at 30387 U.S. 19 N between September 2001 and Oct. 10, according to an arrest report.

He changed the store's accounts to show increased miscellaneous charges and reduced cash on hand during that time, sheriff's spokesman Cal Dennie said. Eckerd representatives told investigators that those expenses went down and cash receipts went up when Barkow was on vacation or was out sick, Dennie said. The losses amounted to $72,812, detectives say.

Barkow denies stealing anything.

Contacted at home Friday after he posted $10,000 bail the night before, he said, "For one thing, it's all what Eckerd drugs is saying. They have no videotaping of me, no pictures of me taking money from Eckerd drugs."

Barkow said about 10 assistant managers had access to the same computers and cash that he did. He also said the store's accounting systems had caused trouble before he arrived as the store manager about two years ago. Barkow said he had contacted Eckerd's headquarters repeatedly about problems with the store's accounting software and database.

"I have taken nothing from Eckerd drugs," Barkow said. "They're saying I'm the only one responsible for the store, but there's other people who deal with cash and the computer.

"I think it's very unfair to single one person out in this and cause me and my family great heartache," he said. "This whole thing has been unbelievable. It's not true."

A sworn statement from a sheriff's detective said Barkow admitted taking $1,000 and adjusting the books to show a positive balance. Barkow said he was scared when he made his first statement to investigators and later wanted to take back what he initially said but was not allowed to do that.

Barkow worked for Eckerd for 19 years and was fired Thursday at the time of the accusations, he said. Eckerd public relations manager Tami Alderman said the company could not comment on the status of any employee or on matters under internal investigation.

-- Richard Danielson can be reached at (727) 445-4194 or danielson@sptimes.com .

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