'A University of Toledo professor who reported his computer stolen, leading to concerns that personal information could be at risk, was charged yesterday by UT police with taking the hard drive.

Thomas Tatchell, 33, an associate professor of health education, was charged in arrest warrants filed yesterday in Toledo Municipal Court with receiving stolen property, tampering with evidence, unauthorized use of property, obstructing official business, and filing a false report.

Mr. Tatchell, who joined UT’s public health and rehabilitative services department in Aug., 2000, reported his university hard drive stolen on July 12.

He told UT police he hadn’t been in his office since May 2, and when he returned last month, he noticed the computer had been stolen as well as his degree plaques from Central Michigan University and the University of Utah, which hung on his office wall.

Mr. Tatchell also reported that the phone on his desk had been moved to another desk but the printer and scanner were still there, according to a UT police report.

Surveillance video from the office reviewed by UT police shows Mr. Tatchell taking the computer about 9 p.m. June 8, UT spokesman Matt Lockwood said.

Some university buildings are equipped with video camera surveillance, depending on what is housed there and if the extra level of level of security is needed, he said.

Mr. Tatchell is in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. No administrative action has been taken, Mr. Lockwood said.

A second computer hard drive also was stolen from the Health and Human Services Building this summer. No arrests have been made in that theft, the spokesman said.

Jeanette Espinosa, a secretary with the public health and rehabilitative services department, reported her university computer stolen June 18.

The theft occurred sometime between 3:30 p.m. on June 15 and 10:40 a.m. on June 18 when someone removed the computer and put the case back where it was to try to conceal the theft, according to a UT police report.

Memory cards for the computer also were taken.

The thefts of the two hard drives led university officials to send a letter to faculty, staff, and students on Wednesday informing them that personal information might have been on the devices.'