Police say a Charleston man was found unconscious at a doughnut shop after breaking into a Charleston veterinary clinic and stealing drugs last week.
Another Kanawha County veterinary clinic was burglarized days earlier, but police have not made an arrest in that case.
Police say that, on March 18, Grant Mcmillion Crul, 26, of Charleston, broke into the Good Shepherd Animal Hospital, at 3703 MacCorkle Ave., Charleston. He is charged with breaking and entering, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.
Charleston police Lt. Steve Cooper said Crul was found a short time after the burglary, at about noon.
"He was found at the Donut Connection, unconscious, and taken to the hospital and, ultimately, charged with breaking and entering," Cooper said.
Cooper didn't know what drugs Crul allegedly had taken. Police still are waiting for toxicology results.
Police say Crul was seen on surveillance video at the business. He allegedly was found with medications stolen from the clinic.
Police also said that on March 13, someone broke into Dunbar Animal Hospital, at 1419 Dunbar Ave., and stole drugs. No one has been arrested.
Dunbar Detective J.A. Payne said Dunbar police are working with Charleston police.
"We're investigating the possibility that the Charleston and Dunbar incidents are connected," he said. "We have leads and we're still working on the case."
Dr. John Banning, owner of the Dunbar Animal Hospital, said it's not uncommon for veterinary clinics to be targeted. His business was broken into once before, about 10 years ago.
"If you talk to the veterinarians in the Valley, probably most of the clinics have had a break-in at one time or another over the years," he said.
Banning said they aren't sure how the thief got inside the building but he or she might have entered through a window. The person broke a safe and stole valium, which is a benzodiazepine that treats anxiety, and phenobarbital, a barbiturate that treats seizures and anxiety. The person also stole injectable ketamine. Ketamine, used medically as an anesthetic for humans and animals, is a dissociative drug with psychedelic and antidepressant properties.
"They knew what to take and what not to take," Banning said. "They were deliberate as to what they took."
He said the person also took some electronic equipment and medical supplies.
He is still determining the total cost of what was stolen, but said the business can absorb the loss. No damage was done to the building.
"We were lucky that no animals were harmed, and anything that was taken can be replaced," he said.
The owner of the Good Shepherd Animal Hospital did not return calls.
The Dominion Post reported in 2011 that Crul, while living in Morgantown, was charged with felony escape and that a bench warrant was issued when he failed to appear for a hearing on a felony charge of possession with intent to deliver controlled substances.
The newspaper also reported that Crul was wanted by Putnam County authorities, who were revoking his probation on daytime burglary charges. Police said he fought with a Morgantown police officer when he was arrested. They said he attempted to bite and kick the officer.
The Herald-Dispatch reported in 2008 that Crul was charged with felony grand larceny and destruction of property in Putnam County.
Breaking and entering, a felony, is punishable by one to 10 years in prison.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.