Cancer Research Specimens for Clinical Trial Compromised During Package Theft From Rochester Hospital
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A 49-year-old man is accused of compromising clinical trial specimens after he stole a package from a Rochester hospital.
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That’s according to a criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court earlier this week.
The court document says the alleged theft happened on December 30 of last year. The hospital is not named in the complaint.
Package Theft from Rochester Hospital Results in Destroyed Clinical Trial Specimens
An employee of the hospital in southwest Rochester had placed a package containing specimens for clinical trials related to hematology-oncology research for blood cancers in a designated area for oversized parcels.
About two hours later, footage captured by a camera showed a man taking the package, placing it in a wheel chair then leaving the area, the complaint says.
Rochester police identified the man as Lee Aguirre Ozuna of Rochester. He was known to officers from prior incidents, according to the court document.
Stolen Package Found in Stairwell
The parcel was later found in a building stairwell. Its contents were determined to have been ruined due to dry-ice storage of the specimens not being maintained, the complaint states. The loss of the parcel was estimated to be $6,738.96.
Court records indicate Ozuna has prior convictions of felony theft and fifth-degree drug possession.
He’s facing one count of felony mail theft in the new case. Ozuna is being charged by summons and is due to make his first court appearance this Fall.
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