Chattanooga police make arrest in Erlanger burglary spree
Ryan Epperson, 26, of Red Bank was booked into the Hamilton County jail Tuesday night on 42 charges of burglary, vandalism, theft and narcotic possession.
According to to the arrest affidavit, Epperson broke into medicine cabinets at two Erlanger Hospital locations and stole more than $1,000 worth of narcotics.
A security officer at Erlanger East told Chattanooga police that on August 8, Epperson was in an area of the operating room where he pried open a narcotics drawer and stole narcotic medication.
On May 28, Epperson was accused of disguising himself as a surgeon at Erlanger’s main hospital where he reportedly broke into a pill machine and stole narcotics. He was captured by security and later charged with burglary, vandalism, possession of narcotics and impersonating a medical professional. During that arrest, Epperson reportedly told investigators he had an addiction problem. It was also during that arrest when police learned Epperson was a corrections officer at the Hamilton County jail.
According to Chattanooga police, Epperson appears to have been burglarizing Erlanger’s 3rd Street and Gunbarrel locations from April 20 to August 18.
During almost every burglary, Epperson’s image was captured on security cameras.
According to investigators, Epperson’s actions have resulted in the loss of very serious narcotics which have a very high street value worth 10’s of thousands of dollars.
Epperson is due in court August 28. His bond has been set at $325,500.
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