A suspected thief is accused of swiping a bag of medical supplies from the back of an ambulance while the crew was on a call in Butler.

James L. Musser III, 35, of Butler admitted he took the property valued at $3,500 in September, city police said

Police on Wednesday charged Musser with a first-degree misdemeanor charge of theft.

Butler Ambulance Service employees discovered the missing medical bag Sept. 19 after returning to the station on First Street, police said,

The bag contained an oxygen tank, intubation kit and other supplies routinely used by paramedics when responding to calls.

The crew had just gotten back from a medical call in the 200 block of West North Street. Security cameras on the ambulance captured the crime on video, according to court documents.

The footage showed a man pass the front of the ambulance. The same man moments later is shown opening the rear door. He then looks around inside and takes the large blue medical bag, police said.

Officers later that evening while in the 300 block of West North Street, noticed a man, later identified as Musser, who matched the description of the thief caught on video.

Police spoke to Musser, who initially denied taking the bag. But when informed of what was on the security footage, documents said, he confessed,

He led officers to a nearby apartment building. Inside the front door, police said, was the bag and contents. The property was eventually returned to the ambulance.

Musser's preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 12.