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A male nurse who was recently hired at a South Florida hospital has been arrested after being caught in an elaborate scheme to steal fentanyl.
According to police, 38-year-old E. Valentin, who was employed as a nurse at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital for nearly a month, was arrested on Thursday by Miami-Dade police for the alleged theft of fentanyl.
Detectives say an investigation into Valentin began when security personnel at the hospital observed Valentin gaining access to the secure narcotics storage section.
Utilizing a code and his thumbprint, Valentin reportedly retrieved vials of fentanyl, left the area, and subsequently returned to reposition the vials within the storage section.
Valentin is accused of manipulating log entries, initially checking out the vials and then erasing the entry. He then logged the removal of vials, ostensibly for administering to a patient’s needs.
On Friday, Valentin left his work shift before its scheduled conclusion.
Police contacted Valentin, urging his return to the hospital, where he was met by the hospital’s security and human resources directors.
Confronted with the evidence, Valentin admitted to the theft of fentanyl and confessed to swapping fentanyl with a saline solution using the same needle and syringe.
Valentin disclosed that he utilized a similar approach to steal midazolam, a benzodiazepine known by the brand name Versed.
Valentin told authorities that he reportedly “self-medicated” by injecting the stolen substances upon returning to his residence in Cutler Bay.
The arrest report indicates that Valentin managed to steal 20 vials of fentanyl and midazolam on the previous day.
Valentin was arrested on charges of grand theft, tampering with a consumer product, and criminal use of personal identification.
He is currently being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with a bond set at $22,500.