Ralston Man Arrested In Theft Of Medical Waste From St. John Hospital

Tulsa Police arrested a Ralston man for stealing medical waste from St. John Medical Center. They're not saying if they believe he's the person who dumped medical waste in the Arkansas River.

Police booked Garrett Mitchell Gibson, 27, into the Tulsa County Jail Monday morning for the theft of medical equipment.

According to an arrest report, hospital security called police at about 4 a.m. on March 16, 2015 after detaining Gibson for stealing syringes and drugs from biohazard sharps containers.

The arrest comes just days after biohazard containers, needles, syringes and vials of blood were found in the Arkansas River between Ralston and Cleveland. 

Law enforcement isn't connecting the two just yet, but Gibson has a Ralston address and deputies believe the waste was tossed from the Belford Bridge near Ralston.

3/16/2015 Related Story: Medical Biohazard Containers Found Trashed In Arkansas River Near Ralston

St. John spokesperson Joy McGill confirms that medical center security first apprehended Gibson before he was taken into custody by Tulsa Police.

"We are actively cooperating with law enforcement personnel during this ongoing investigation," she said. 

According to the arrest report, security found him carrying a small black trash can containing used needles and discarded vials with small amounts of drugs in them.

Gibson told hospital security he worked at the hospital as a janitor, according to the report. However, security told police they found no evidence that was true. McGill said he is not an employee of the hospital.

Gibson was arrested in Oklahoma City last year on charges of rustling cattle in Osage County and selling the stolen animals in Pawnee and Kay Counties. That case is still pending.

12/19/2014: Related Story: Ralston Man Wanted For Cattle Rustling Found Barricaded In Closet, Rangers Say