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Texas hospital employee accused of taking nude patient pics

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A former employee at Shoal Creek Hospital has been charged with improper photography after police say co-workers found nude pictures of a patient on his cellphone. An arrest warrant for 47-year-old Cazzie Kirk said two nurses found a cellphone plugged into an outlet near one of their nurses’ stations on March 27. Since they did not know who owned the phone, they checked through it to figure out who owned it but instead allegedly found the pictures of a woman taking a shower.

Both nurses told police they recognized the woman in the pictures as a patient and reported what they found to their supervisor. Evidence of what was found on the phone was documented and sent to Austin police. Police said Kirk did not deny it was his phone and told his supervisors he handed the patient a towel and that his phone must have been taking pictures without his knowledge while it was in his pocket.

Kirk was terminated immediately and escorted off hospital property, according to the arrest warrant. Investigators said the patient did not recall seeing Kirk at all and was unaware she was being photographed.

Seton Hospitals declined to comment when contacted by WISH-TV’s sister station KXAN. Shoal Creek Hospital serves patients dealing with mental health issues and substance abuse.