Medication stolen from hospital recovered beneath trash bin

A large portion of expired medication stolen from Carson-Tahoe Hospital was recovered following an anonymous tip, an investigator said Friday.

Detective Bob Motamenpour said a caller reported to 911 about 11:30 p.m. the cache of stolen drugs were beneath a trash bin in the 500 block of West College Parkway.

Motamenpour said deputies discovered there a briefcase filled with baggies of some of the more than 500 pills and 300 milliliters of narcotics.

"We definitely think these are the ones stolen from the hospital," he said, noting some of the ampules of morphine were tagged with hospital markings.

Motamenpour estimated more than 300 pills and numerous vials were found in the briefcase. Among the drugs missing and found were morphine, methadone, liquid cocaine and Oxycontin.

On Dec. 21, an inventory at the former hospital revealed a large portion of drugs slated for destruction were missing following a reported burglary there on Dec. 15.

Matthew Willett, 18, and four 17-year-old juveniles were arrested on suspicion of burglary. All were released on their own recognizance.

On Wednesday, two teens' homes were searched after the revelation of the missing drugs. One teen admitted his involvement and said he tossed his portion of the drugs into a trash bin at Mark Twain Elementary School. The other teen refused to talk to police.

It's believed the group entered through the unlocked ambulance bay doors. Detective Brian Humphrey said there did not appear to be forced entry into either the building or the small office in which the drugs were stored.