Man who damaged BRMC medication pump facing new drug charges

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Photo: Timothy Strain

A Lakeview man who pled no contest in August to breaking into a medical drug pump in an OB room at Baxter Regional Medical Center and with damaging other pieces of equipment was back in Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday to face newly filed drug-related charges.

Thirty-six-year-old Timothy Strain was put on probation for six years in August for damaging the medical equipment and was also ordered to pay $6,700 in restitution to BRMC.

The latest charges against Strain stem from a mid-October traffic stop in which a small quantity of methamphetamine, a used syringe and a substance identified only as a “green powder” were found.

In the report on the incident, the arresting officer said the vehicle occupied by Strain and driven by 36-year-old Jessica Kupczyk was pulled over. Kupczyk had a suspended driver’s license and also an active arrest warrant issued by Marion County. The officer said there were three small children in the vehicle. He reported the methamphetamine and syringe were located on the floorboard and “easily accessible” to the children.



Photo: Jessica Kupczyk

Strain and Kupczyk are charged with possessing methamphetamine and endangering the welfare of minor children. They have both entered not guilty pleas and were ordered to reappear in circuit court next month.

The incident resulting in Strain’s arrest for damaging the medical equipment began Jan. 17 when MHPD officers were called to BRMC to investigate a report from hospital security staff. Strain had been in his girlfriend’s room after she had given birth to the couple’s child. He was suspected of having broken into an epidural pump. When contact was made with Strain, he said he had accidentally knocked the pump over and had been attempting to reassemble it.

Later in the day, hospital staff noticed another damaged pump and a sharps container had been broken into. The sharps container is used to dispose of various items of medical waste, such as hypodermic needles. They also found needles wrapped in one towel and vials of prescription medicines in another. The medication had allegedly been taken from a lock box.

Police learned Strain had left the hospital in a van, and they were told he had driven the vehicle to the home of a friend. When officers arrived at the friend’s house, they saw the van in the driveway and reported seeing Strain trying to exit a side door being watched by one of the officers. Strain was taken into custody.

When the van was searched, officers found parts from a medication pump in the vehicle.

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