RANGELEY – A state licensing board suspended Rangeley druggist Joey McLafferty’s license Tuesday in an emergency action, Anne Head, director of Maine Office of Licensing and Registration, said Wednesday.

McLafferty, 73, appeared before the board Tuesday with his attorneys on a complaint, and the board became aware of additional information during the meeting, Head said. She did not know Wednesday what the initial complaint was that the board was taking up.

The board will schedule a hearing on McLafferty’s license within 30 days, she said.

Reached at Riddle’s Pharmacy on Wednesday, McLafferty said he couldn’t talk about his situation.

“I really think that is inappropriate to comment other than what’s on public record at this time,” said McLafferty’s attorney, Charlie Dingman of PretiFlaherty.

The board immediately suspended McLafferty’s license, Dingman said, but he had not seen the written order yet.

They are working with McLafferty, Dingman said, to understand what the order means.

McLafferty was charged by Rangeley police on Monday night by summons with operating without a driver’s license in violation of conditions or restrictions, police Chief Phil Weymouth said Wednesday.

Earlier, Officer Jared Austin had observed a vehicle on Route 4 operating erratically crossing over the fog line and the center line as it traveled down the road, Weymouth said. Austin stopped the vehicle and could smell alcohol on the driver, identified as McLafferty, he said.

McLafferty blew a .07 on the intoxilyzer, he said, and was in violation of his conditional license that prohibits him from having any alcohol while he’s driving. A driver with a blood-alcohol content of .08 percent or more is considered legally drunk in Maine.

McLafferty was charged last year with operating under the influence and pleaded guilty to the charge earlier this year.

It is the second time in two years that the pharmacist’s license was suspended by the board. His license was temporarily suspended in 2005 after violations were found at Riddle’s Pharmacy, which he owns and operates, that came to light after teenage employees were accused of stealing drugs from Riddle’s.

In January this year, the state pharmacy board issued disciplinary sanctions after McLafferty admitted to dispensing the wrong prescription drug.

McLafferty entered into a consent agreement in that case and received a warning, paid a $400 fine and was placed on probation for one year.