Associated Press
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A corrections officer has been accused of posing as a surgeon to steal narcotics from Chattanooga’s three major downtown hospitals.
Multiple media outlets report 26-year-old Hamilton County corrections Officer Ryan Epperson was arrested Wednesday on multiple drug, vandalism, trespassing and impersonation charges.
Erlanger Health System security guard Kimberly Demp says she noticed Epperson walking through a surgery suite wearing scrubs, but without a required name badge.
According to an arrest report, Epperson confessed to police to stealing drugs and admitted to having a drug problem.
Police say Epperson had “repeatedly broken into” Erlanger, Parkridge hospital and CHI Memorial Community Health Center.
Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond says Epperson will be suspended with pay pending a June 2 court appearance.
It wasn’t immediately clear if Epperson has an attorney.