Mich. man arrested for trespassing at UT Medical Center

10/2/2013

Not even appropriate attire helped a Michigan man convince University of Toledo police that he belonged in restricted hospital areas.

Samuel Sapsford, 56, of 215 E. Elm Ave., Monroe, was arrested Wednesday and charged with criminal trespassing. He is scheduled to appear in Toledo Municipal Court on Friday.

A security officer at the University of Toledo Medical Center, the former Medical College of Ohio, encountered Mr. Sapsford, who authorities said was wearing a lab coat inscribed with the name Jennifer Schnapp, in the Mulford Library on the UTMC campus. He claimed to be an employee and needed access to various areas in the hospital. The officer doubted the man and summoned police.

Campus police asked Mr. Sapsford where he found the lab coat; the suspect said it was given to him by one of his three bosses, though he could not name any of them, according to the report.

Mr. Sapsford told the officer he worked for UTMC and the University of Michigan hospital. Neither claim was true, police said.

UT police Chief Jeff Newton said it appears Mr. Sapsford found the coat in a kitchen area of the hospital. Officials did not know why Mr. Sapsford allegedly was trying to get into various parts of the hospital or where he was trying to go.

He was also arrested on a retail fraud warrant issued by Michigan State Police.

UT spokesman Jon Strunk said the criminal trespass charge means that Mr. Sapsford will not be allowed on any of the university's campuses.

— Taylor Dungjen