Nursing home shut down after police discover used syringes, mishandled drugs inside

LIBERTY BOROUGH, Pa. — A nursing home in Liberty Borough was shut down by police Monday after investigators said used syringes and patient medications were found in a back room.

Channel 11's Alan Jennings was there as state inspectors arrived at the Liberty Manor Personal Care Home. Investigators said they received a call last week from someone who suspected that employees at the home were stealing patients' medicine.

“We just came across approximately 100 cans of old syringes in coffee cans in a back room. I can’t name over 1,000 pills that we found in the back room,” Liberty Borough Police Officer Ray Johnson said.

Johnson said authorities have been investigating the home for a few weeks.

“They were stealing patients’ medicine and they had improper disposal of the medicine,” Johnson said.

Upon their arrival, police reported smelling natural gas and called for an immediate shutdown and fire department assistance.

Arrangements were made to transfer 29 patients living at the home.

Sharon Black works at another care facility and said she transferred several patients to her building.

“Nobody should have to go through this. If you work at a personal care home, or own a personal care home, you should do that to residents,” Black said.

Some residents told Channel 11 News that they didn’t know anything illegal was going on.

“In all the time I’ve been here, I’ve never even suspected any kind of illegal drugs or illegal action,” resident Ed Ryan said.

Police said charges are likely to be filed upon completion of their investigation.

WPXI