Hospital employee arrested for stolen beds

Published 6:25 pm Tuesday, August 28, 2012

The charges stem from whether the Arkansas hospital received payment, according to Hempstead County Sheriff James Singleton.

Scott Cheek faces felony charges related to the theft of 28 hospital beds, 12 patient tables and two drawer cabinets, a combined value of about $157,000.

“We just kind of followed the paper trail and found some former employees that were willing to give statements about what they saw,” Singleton said. “It’s still an ongoing investigation.”

Some of the beds were in use at Chilton Medical, while others were found in storage near the hospital.

A property hearing will be held to determine whether the equipment should be returned to Arkansas.

Clanton Police Chief Brian Stilwell said his agency has filed no reports related to the operation of the hospital.

“Currently, we do not have an ongoing investigation, and we don’t anticipate any charges, unless we’re made aware of something,” Stilwell said. “Nobody wants to do anything to hurt the hospital. All we were doing was assisting the group out of Arkansas.”

Chapin said he remains committed to the success of Chilton Medical Center despite Scott Cheek’s arrest and other incidents involving the hospital’s operator, Carraway.

“There are a lot of rumors out there. We are struggling financially, but we are making payroll,” Chapin said. “I was hired to turn this place around, and that’s what I’m focused on. I want to see our hospital succeed.”