Man arrested, accused of looting for drugs

Police have arrested a man who is accused of sifting through medical waste to find used syringes and vials containing drugs.

Saturday, August 23rd 2008, 12:08 am

By: News 9


By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9

NORMAN, Okla. - Police have arrested a man who is accused of sifting through medical waste to find used syringes and vials containing drugs.

According to Norman Police, 32-year-old Chad Crabtree breached security Wednesday at Norman Regional Hospital.

"He was actually caught in the preparation area of a surgery area and they actually caught him in the bathroom," said Officer Jennifer Newell of the Norman Police Department.

Crabtree, reportedly disguised as a surgical tech employee, gained entry into Norman Regional through a loading dock. A staff member noticed him and called security who found several items in Crabtree's possession.

"He had some sponge forceps and he was using them to dig down into the sharp's container to pull out partially used vials of morphine, things like that," Officer Newell said.

This is not the first time the 32-year-old was found near area hospitals.

Officers said Crabtree was spotted at Midwest Regional Hospital in January and made a return in April. He was reportedly found wandering around the surgical area.

"They went to confront him and Mr. Crabtree went in and locked himself in a bathroom and wouldn't come out," said Major Sid Porter of the Midwest City Police Department.

Police said Crabtree had several vials of narcotics in his possession that he obtained from medical waste.

"He also had a key with him to be able to get into some of these boxes so evidently he also had some prior knowledge on how to obtain them," Major Porter said.

Police said that he gained that knowledge from a job he once held at Midwest Regional.

Among the charges he faces are larceny of drugs and trespassing. He was due to appear in court this coming Tuesday before this alleged incident in Norman.

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