Man charged with stealing, selling dental tools

A far North Side man is accused of stealing and selling dental tools that belonged to the University of Texas Health Sciences Center.

An arrest affidavit stated Ty Oatman, 41, worked at the facility as a dental mechanic for four years, with his career there ending in October 2011.

The affidavit stated an outside vendor contacted Oatman's supervisor last year, saying that Oatman had been trying to sell dental hand tools that belonged to the university.

UT police conducted an investigation and said they found that Oatman had sold more than a dozen tools, valued at more than $2,200, to a local dentist.

The affidavit stated the dentist turned over the tools to investigators earlier this year, telling them he thought the items were surplus and no longer needed by the university. Police arrested Oatman on a theft charge.