By Lacie Morrison
lmorrison@mineralwellsindex.com
PALO PINTO – While serving warrants on a Mineral Wells resident, law enforcement officers recently recovered identifying information on more than 200 people apparently stolen from a medical records storage facility.
Authorities believe they recovered the material before any identity theft occurred.
Terry Lynn Porter, 41, was arrested Oct. 29 by Palo Pinto County sheriff’s deputies at a residence in the 4400 block of Farm-to-Market Road 1195. According to Palo Pinto County Sheriff Ira Mercer, his officers had “some warrants to serve on him” and discovered a backpack containing identifying information that appeared to have come from the Gordon clinic.
Porter reportedly fled under the house, brandishing a pocketknife at the officers. Mercer said deputy Gary Morris followed Porter under the house and threatened to deploy a Taser on him. Pepper spray was also reportedly shot under the house. The suspect complied and was taken into custody, officials said. He was charged with two burglary warrants and a parole violation warrant.
The paperwork that was discovered with him, however, added an additional charge to the list. According to Mercer, the papers contained information on approximately 240 to 250 people.
“He had banking information, checking information,” he said, adding that all of the checks were written to the Gordon clinic in 2004. Mercer said they also discovered, birth certificates, fake driver’s licenses, fake currency in $20 and $50 denominations, real checks and fake Social Security cards, among other things.
“We think we got him shut down before he ever got started,” Mercer said. “We’ve contacted between 60 and 70 potential victims, mostly local people in Palo Pinto, Mingus, Strawn and Gordon. … To our knowledge, we don’t have any actual victims.”
In addition to the three warrants Porter was served with, he was also charged with fraudulent use/possession of identifying information of 50 or more items. Mercer explained the quantity of information is what made the charge a first-degree felony.
As to the source of the documents, Mercer said they believe it came from the recent burglary of Palo Pinto General Hospital’s off-site storage facility.
Mineral Wells Police Lt. Brad Belz said they were contacted on Oct. 31 by Morris regarding an arrest involving identity theft. After making contact with hospital officials about the potential burglary, officers went to the facility.
“They found the door was [shut] and secured with a single strand of wire,” Belz said.
PPGH Chief Executive Officer Harris Brooks confirmed they learned about the burglary from “other sources” and verified the building was broken into. The building, he said, has three doors.
“They were able to cut some cables and pry it open enough to [get] inside,” Brooks said.
He explained the hospital has to retain certain documents for set number of years, as determined by law, before they can be destroyed.
“We were able to shred thousands of pounds [of papers],” Brooks said, in a manner that was HIPA [Health Information Privacy Act] compliant. He said they now have a “much more manageable” amount of paperwork and can keep up-to-date on their shredding schedule.
As for the building’s security, Brooks declined to give specific measures taken but said, “I feel much more comfortable about it. It is much more secure now.”
Porter remained even more secure Wednesday inside the Palo Pinto County Jail with bonds totaling $120,000. No bond was set for his parole violation warrant.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Sheriff Ira Mercer
The Index welcomes comments. Inappropriate language or comments that do not meet our standards will be removed. Comments by guests made anonymously must be approved before they appear.
Wanted man found with stolen personal information
Checks, documents reportedly stolen from PPGH storage facility.
- Local News
-
-
Police Beat: Thefts, burglaries reported
According to Mineral Wells police reports, there were a number of property crimes reported over the past few days.
-
Thursday Blotter
The following people were processed through the Palo Pinto County Jail.
-
Driver killed in rollover wreck
The driver of a vehicle involved in a rollover crash just south of Mineral Wells Tuesday night died at the scene, according to authorities.
-
Local farmers hoping to hang on to crop insurance in next farm bill
Last year, farmers in Palo Pinto County saw drought and record heat take their toll on their crops.
-
Single-vehicle crash injures driver
According to reports, the only individual involved in an early morning crash Monday was transported to Palo Pinto General Hospital for unspecified injuries.
-
Police Beat: man arrested for allegedly pulling gun
According to Mineral Wells police, Ryan Matthew Segars, 31, of Mineral Wells, was arrested Monday on a charge stemming from an incident earlier this month.
-
County Records- Jan. 23-30
Palo Pinto County
Clerk Janette Green -
Mineral Wells man among newest crop of state troopers
AUSTIN – Fifty-seven men and women became Texas Highway Patrol troopers Jan. 19 after reciting the state’s law enforcement oath and receiving their badges during a ceremony in Austin.
-
New construction in county now needs a permit
PALO PINTO – Palo Pinto County Commissioners unanimously approved a motion at Monday’s meeting to begin requiring a type of building permit for new construction – homes and commercial – and new mobile homes in unincorporated areas of the county.
-
TXU, Salvation Army team up to offer low-income energy efficiency assistance program
The Salvation Army, Palo Pinto Service Unit, has been awarded a grant from TXU Energy to provide to the residence of Palo Pinto County with the following energy efficient products:
- More Local News Headlines
-
Police Beat: Thefts, burglaries reported
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
