Man Arrested After He Converts His Bathroom Into Illegal Dentist's Office

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Officials have announced the arrest of a man they say provided dental services out of a converted bathroom in his home.

Authorities said they arrested William Escobar, 40, Wednesday after a month long investigation conducted by the Moorpark Police Investigations Unit and the California Dental Board.

Escobar lived in the 600 block of Spring Road in Moorpark.

A former "patient" reported Escobar in November after saying he cleaned his teeth, injected him with an anesthetic and evaluated him about a tooth extraction.

When the patient told Escobar he couldn't pay for the extraction, the procedure was not performed. The patient told officials he suffered swelling and pain at the injection site. According to the complainant, Escobar also called and threatened him about owed money.

After serving a search warrant at Escobar's apartment, detectives reportedly found an elaborate and illegal dental operation set up in Escobar's bathroom complete with dental chair, tools, anesthetic drugs, false teeth and items to perform orthodonture.

Officials said Escobar has numerous customers, including teenagers who were receiving orthodonture care.

Escobar was arrested on several charges including felony practice of dentistry without a license, misdemeanor furnishing of dangerous drugs, and possession of needles.

The Moorpark Police Station is asking for any of Escobar's clients to come forward and contact them.