Ryan Epperson
An employee of the Hamilton County Jail has been charged with posing as a doctor so he could steal medicine from local hospitals.
Police said Ryan Epperson was wearing hospital scrubs when he was caught in a secure area of Erlanger Hospital on Wednesday by a Walden Security guard.
In his pockets were found a crushed bottle of Demerol and a syringe filled with fentanyl. A search of his vehicle and residence turned up more narcotics along with syringes and medical scrubs.
Officials at Parkridge Hospital had reported medicine missing there on Monday after a medicine cabinet was forced open.
Police said Epperson admitted taking the medicine due to a personal addiction.
He said he also took drugs from Memorial Hospital.
Epperson was charged with theft of property, two counts of vandalism/malicious mischief, impersonation of a licensed professional, six counts of drugs general category for resale, theft of property, and criminal trespassing.
Sheriff Jim Hammond said he has ordered a full internal affairs investigation. After Epperson’s arrest by the Chattanooga Police Department, he was immediately suspended by the sheriff.
Sheriff Hammond said, “That is our agency’s policy; to give the employee his day in court first where they can be found innocent or guilty. If this employee is found guilty of any of his charges, he will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
Chief Allen Branum said “We just don’t tolerate this kind of behavior by any of our employees who have betrayed the public’s trust in them.”
Sheriff Hammond said the sheriff’s office "employs over 400 full-time and part-time employees and volunteers and the vast majority of our employees are outstanding men and women who protect and serve our citizens with complete dedication."
Epperson, 26, got into trouble in 2011 when it was found that he had completed course work for Deputy Chief Ron Parson. Both were given suspensions.
In 2014, Epperson ran for register of deeds, but lost to incumbent Pam Hurst.
Police said there had been an ongoing investigation for someone repeatedly breaking into narcotics dispensing machines at Erlanger, Parkridge and Memorial.
Police said there had been "extensive damage to these expensive machines and large quantities of missing narcotics."
A suspect had been seen on several surveillance cameras, including a view from the rear of a tall white male in the incident at Parkridge on Monday. Epperson is 6'3".
The Walden Security guard said he asked the man in scrubs for his credentials. When these could not be produced, Epperson was escorted to a vehicle to be interviewed. While on the way, he asked to stop in a stairwell where he left his jacket containing his vehicle keys.
Also in the stairwell were tools used to burglarize the machines and additional syringes of fentanyl and demerol, police said.
It was found that Epperson had parked in a secure area for doctors and made entry to the hospital through a door marked for secure personnel only.
A detective said when he arrived he immediately recognized the suspect as the person in photos taken at prior thefts.
Epperson confirmed that he worked at the jail and expressed concern about keeping his job.
Police said, "Epperson admitted that he had an addiction problem and was trying to feed that addiction."
Epperson pulled six vials of demerol from his pants pocket. He asked if he could turn in all the drugs he had stolen from the three hospitals.
Police said when they searched his Ford Fusion they found a large bag in the trunk containing multiple vials of various narcotics. More of the stolen drugs, along with syringes, were found at his apartment in Red Bank.
Erlanger officials said, "Thanks to a variety of safeguards and surveillance measures, we are grateful that Erlanger’s employees were responsible for the apprehension of this suspect. Because this is an ongoing criminal and internal investigation, we are limited in what we can say or release at this point.
"However, we will use this incident as an opportunity to remind our staff that:
1.) ID badges must be visible at all times.
2.) ID badges must be worn at all times by vendors, all staff, physicians, volunteers and medical students while on campus.
"As with all healthcare facilities, patients and family members are encouraged to look for ID badges on anyone entering a hospital room whether a healthcare professional, housekeeper or food service employee."