California man arrested for allegedly stealing COVID-19 specimen from hospital

DAVIS, Calif. (KTXL) -- A sample destined to be tested for COVID-19 instead ended up in the hands of a suspected thief in Davis on Saturday.

Davis Police Deputy Chief Paul Doroshov told FOX40 that 40-year-old Shaun Moore walked into Sutter Davis Hospital Saturday afternoon, grabbed the specimen and took off on a bicycle.

According to Doroshov, the suspect abandoned the testing sample without opening it. Workers at a CVS Pharmacy found it inside a shopping cart just before 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Based on tips from the homeless community, investigators say they were able to track down Moore Sunday morning and arrest him on suspicion of burglary near the intersection of Cowell Blvd and Research Park Drive.

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Police said more charges may be filed depending on his motive but they don't think the suspect meant to harm himself or anyone else.