Medical files with private information found in Brownsville dumpster

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The CBS4 Investigates team was at the scene where hundreds of medical files with potentially sensitive information were discovered in a dumpster.

The files were located in a dumpster at the 1100 block of E. Los Ebanos Blvd. in Brownsville, across from Stell Middle School.

The CBS4 Investigates team arrived Thursday afternoon, where dozens of folders containing documents filled the dumpster.

The team spoke with a witness on scene, who reported the files being improperly disposed to police.

"These are medical records," she said "These are clients that have Medicaid, Medicare info, social security, addresses, everything."

She said she had been guarding the dumpster for several hours to ensure that no one would take any of the files. She even attempted to call a hotline with the Texas Attorney General for reporting sensitive files that were improperly disposed.

She said she learned first-hand the dangers of having information stolen from a similar incident.

"Trust me, it happened to me a few years back," she recalled. "They found my info in McAllen... They found my info in a trashcan."

On Friday afternoon, Brownsville police shared a livestream at the scene where several investigators are seated beneath a ten, documenting the retrieved files.

"Our investigators have since taken the bin as evidence and are collecting the files to ensure that all personal information is handled and disposed of securely," police said.

The CBS4 Investigates team will provide more updates as they become available.