The day after being arrested at Muskogee Community Hospital, an anesthesiologist who showed up for work Friday was told his privileges were suspended.

Dr. Brad Stahlheber, 34, of Tulsa was arrested and booked into jail in Tulsa County on complaints of possession of anabolic steroids and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jail records show he was arrested at 5 p.m. and released at 10:49 p.m. on $5,500 bond.

“He was here,” said MCH spokesman Mark Roberts. “We don’t know of any details, what he’s accused of, except he was arrested on a misdemeanor.”

Stahlheber’s arrest was part of an investigation involving anabolic steroids.

Mark Woodward, spokesman for Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, says the complex investigation began in January of 2007 after the state drug agency received information related to steroid trafficking, manufacturing and use. Stahlheber was one of a dozen people for whom warrants were issued.

“Five people were taken into custody, and we expect to locate the other seven individuals over the next few days,” Woodward said.

Two of the people being sought are from Wagoner County, he said.

Stahlheber was not a hospital employee but had privileges at the hospital. He showed up at MCH to work Friday, but was told he could not do so. He had been at the hospital three weeks, Roberts said.

“We suspended his privileges until we can find out what’s going on. His arrest doesn’t fit in with the criteria of what our medical staff needs to be,” Roberts said.

Woodward says the defendants face a variety of charges, including the importation and manufacturing of steroids, using steroids, distribution of steroids, possession of steroids, and improper prescribing of steroids.

Also arrested Thursday:

• Sherry Smith, 39, an Oklahoma City firefighter. Charged with using steroids.

• Tom Burke, 43, Tulsa. Charged with felony distribution of steroids.

• Derek Davis, 26, Tulsa. Charged with possession with intent to distribute steroids.

• Dr. Gary Lee, 48, Tulsa. Charged with felony improper prescribing of steroids.

“This has been a far-reaching, complex investigation,” Woodward said. “We have identified individuals from Oklahoma, as well as several other states involved in bringing steroids or components of the drug into the United States. The drugs are being manufactured and distributed within a growing circle of individuals tied to competitive body building.”

Woodward says several more individuals have been indicted federally, but those indictments remained sealed at this time. According to Woodward, more arrests are anticipated.