Coronavirus Test Kit Theft Case Closed, False Alarm: Tucson PD

Editor's note: this article has been edited following a Tucson police update.

TUCSON, AZ — A man formerly accused of stealing 29 coronavirus test kits from Tucson's El Rio Health Center was a legitimate delivery driver, Tucson police said, clearing him of any wrongdoing. The testing kits were never stolen, the department said in a social media post.

Around 8 p.m. Friday, the man walked into the health center and was given access to a locked room where packages are normally stored for pick up. The man was not a regular delivery driver, police said.

Employees noticed the tests missing on Saturday morning and called the police.

Authorities released surveillance photos of the delivery driver, at the time believing he stole the coronavirus test kits. They have since spoken to him. A delivery slip from a transportation contractor corroborated the man's story and police closed the case.

See the Tucson Police Department Facebook post.

Police said the 29 coronavirus test kits were accidentally removed from the health center and taken to Sorona Quest Laboratories. The kits have since been returned, the social media post says.

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, Arizona has seen 285 coronavirus cases and five deaths. Forty-two of the cases are in Pima County.

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