A former employee of a hospital billing center has been charged with stealing in excess of $10,000.

Allison Jo Kruzel, 27, of 2305 Northwind, was bound over to 14th Circuit Court Dec. 6 on a charge of embezzlement by agent or trustee of more than $1,000 but less than $20,000. She was charged with the offense in mid-November after an investigation by Norton Shores police.

Detective Lt. Timothy LaVigne said Kruzel allegedly stole more than $10,000 cash during the past year from the Hackley Primary Care Network billing center, 6401 Prairie.

Kruzel's job was to pick up billing information, including cash co-pays, from three physicians' practices owned by Hackley Hospital. She then returned to work, entered the information in a computer and made the bank deposits, LaVigne said.